ESF to Honor Rhea Jezer and Damian Vanetti with 2026 Sol Feinstone Environmental Award

10/21/2026

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Oct. 21, 2026 — The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will present the 2026 Sol Feinstone Environmental Award to Rhea Jezer, president of Energy21 and Damian Vanetti, senior service director of the Northeast operations for Geosyntec Consultants in recognition of their outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and community service.

The Sol Feinstone Award honors individuals who care for the environment, encourage volunteerism, and advance society’s understanding of environmental issues and their solutions. This year’s recipients exemplify those values through their leadership, innovation, and commitment to the public good.

Dr. Jezer's work in environmental policy, renewable energy, education, and public engagement has helped advance a more sustainable future. Rhea is president of Energy21 and founder of the Annual Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century, a leading renewable energy conference in the Northeast. She is an adjunct associate professor at ESF and has worked with leaders including Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor George Pataki and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Dr. Jezer is co-chair of the Central New York Sierra Club and held leadership roles with the New York League of Conservation Voters and numerous civic organizations. A former Congressional Fellow, she helped advance legislation promoting diversity in STEM fields.

Rhea holds a Ph.D. and a certificate in gender studies from Syracuse University, a Master of Arts from Columbia University Graduate Studies in Musicology, and a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College.

Damian’s contributions to environmental engineering and community-focused development exemplify the values of innovation, responsibility, and service. He is a Professional Engineer practicing environmental engineering for clients including manufacturers, commercial businesses, developers, and municipal, state and federal governments. Damian is currently a senior principal, a senior service director of the Northeast Operations, and the Syracuse office manager for Geosyntec Consultants.

Damian's career began at Stearns & Wheler, LLC nearly 40 years ago, focusing on solid and hazardous waste management, and has expanded into site redevelopment, remediation, and regulatory compliance. He has focused his career on sustainable and community-based development and integrating the natural environment into the created environment that benefits the community and the local ecology.

Damian earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson University. He participates in several professional and local organizations including the Board of Directors for the ESF College Foundation, on which he has served for nearly nine years.

“The Sol Feinstone Environmental Award recognizes individuals whose work demonstrates a deep commitment to serving both people and the planet,” said ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Dr. Rhea Jezer and Damian Vanetti have dedicated their careers to advancing environmental solutions and strengthening communities. Their accomplishments embody the values this award was created to honor.”

“It is a privilege to honor Dr. Rhea Jezer and Damian Vanetti,” said ESF’s Chief Advancement Officer Brenda Greenfield. “Through their leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, both have made a lasting impact on New York state and beyond. Their accomplishments reflect the very best of the environmental profession and the mission of ESF.”

The Feinstone Awards dinner will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, at ESF’s Gateway Center. It is the premier fundraising event for ESF. Proceeds directly support scholarships for high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students at ESF.

About SUNY ESF  

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is one of the nation's premier colleges focused on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future. ESF’s mission is to educate future environmental leaders of all backgrounds, advance knowledge, and skills necessary to promote scholarship and stewardship of the natural to designed environments, and act both locally and globally to Improve Our World. ESF’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni make a global impact on improving and sustaining the environment. ESF offers a world-class education among a close-knit community of more than 2,000 scholars with common values and a shared sense of purpose. ESF’s tight-knit community is centered alongside Syracuse University in the heart of Central New York and has a system of properties spanning 25,000 acres that broadly represent New York state’s rich ecological diversity for scientific study and instruction. To learn more, visit suny.edu.