Steve T’86 and Diane Siegel sat together at a picnic table in a scenic nature park in Savannah, Ga. But they weren’t just enjoying the view; they were waiting for their daughter, Emily, to pass her drone pilot exam.
Emily, who just completed her first year in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, was preparing for her summer research project: using drones to study elephants in Zambia.
“She’ll be studying the impact of drones on elephant behavior for her Master’s Project,” Steve said. “She will also be working with a Bass Connections team in Zambia to monitor the health of orphaned elephants that have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild.”
Though they are excited for Emily to get hands-on learning experiences in Zambia, they are not immune to some parental concerns. “I’m really hoping she doesn’t get too close to the elephants,” Diane said.
Being there to encourage their children is common practice for the Siegels. Emily is the youngest of three, and Steve and Diane enjoy supporting all of them in their adventures, including trips to Italy and Israel.
“It’s taken us places we’ve never been before,” Diane said. “We love to see our kids seeking out and having these opportunities.”
To extend these same opportunities to others, Steve and Diane recently created a new endowed fellowship fund to support student fellowships at the Nicholas School. “It feels good to know we can help provide opportunities for someone who may not have access to them otherwise,” Diane said.
Passing along a love for the planet
Steve was born in Brooklyn, NY but grew up in South Carolina. He later enrolled at Duke, attracted by its strong academic reputation, and earned his degree in economics in 1986. After living in the Washington, D.C., area for several years, he joined his father and two brothers in their family business in scrap metal recycling. The business grew considerably over the years, with 25 facilities across the Carolinas and Georgia.
“My whole career is recycling,” Steve said. “Our industry has been interested in sustainable practices for many years.”
Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, Diane earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s in rehabilitation studies from East Carolina University. She later moved to South Carolina, where she met and married Steve.
A master gardener and avid birdwatcher, Diane is happy that Emily inherited their love of nature.
“I’m all about plants,” she said. “We also love to geek out on birds – we have all the binoculars.”
The most precious resource
Steve and Diane made their home in Greenville, S.C., for 20 years, but relocated to Hilton Head Island seven years ago. They love the fact that the coastal community places such an emphasis on protecting the environment, from restoring saltwater marshes and native vegetation to investing in ecotourism.
“There’s no more precious resource than our own planet,” Steve said. “You think about mistakes mankind has made historically – how tragic would it be if we ruined our own environment? We believe the work that the Nicholas School is doing gets us back on the right path.”
They hope that their gift will enable students like Emily to enjoy life-changing experiences while pursuing careers in environmental stewardship.
“We have been so impressed with the opportunities that have been available to Emily at Duke,” said Diane, who is a lifelong UNC Tar Heel. “I might even start wearing shirts that have ‘Duke’ on them.”
