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Cindy Lowry — Alumna

Alabama Rivers Alliance, Birmingham, Alabama

Photo of Cindy Lowry

Cindy Lowry receiving her award.

In Alabama, non-governmental organizations and citizen groups are at the vanguard of efforts to restore and protect the state’s rivers, streams, and watersheds, nurture citizen activism, and advocate for public policy that serves the public interest. Alumna Cindy Lowry is Executive Director of the Alabama Rivers Alliance (ARA), one of the state’s most visible and effective environmental organizations. For more than fifteen years Cindy has been an advocate, educator, and network-weaver on behalf of the people of Alabama and the natural places they love.

As leader of ARA, Cindy and her staff work across the state, from the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to the Tennessee River educating citizens and policy-makers about the importance of using water resources sustainably, which requires understanding and managing rivers as living ecosystems. Cindy is a constant presence and influence in state-wide efforts, working with citizens, communities, businesses, policy-makers, and river organizations to address water quality problems and create policies that protect water quality and responsibly manage water use.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science at Auburn University, Cindy obtained a Master of Public Administration at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Her master’s thesis spoke to one of her core values and interests: citizen participation in public policy, with a specific focus on improving the lives of low-income people.

In addition to her work as ARA’s Executive Director, Cindy also serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Locust Fork River and as Board of Directors President for the Arise Citizens’ Policy Project (ACPP). ACPP “is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of 150 congregations and community groups and hundreds of individuals united in their belief that low-income people are suffering because of state policy decisions. Through ACPP, groups and individuals join together to promote state policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians.” As ACPP Board President, Cindy leads the board in supporting the Arise staff in its policy analysis, organizing, and advocacy efforts. In 2012, Cindy was awarded a “Wonderful Outstanding Woman” award from the Metro Birmingham Branch of the NAACP.

Cindy’s warm, calm, and gracious approach, combined with her passion, tenacity, and commitment to environmental protection and social justice, make her an effective leader and agent for positive change in Alabama.