Rich has a degree in biology from West Virginia University. He has done course work at Boston University in Biological Oceanography and Maritime Studies. His goal was to teach ecology at the college level, so along with his regular course work in biology he took studies in a broad range of ecological subjects such as Geographical Information Systems, Remote Sensing, and Geology. His regular biology course work focused on plant ecology.
He had the exciting opportunity to spend three months aboard a research sailboat out of Woods Hole, MA investigating the effects of nutrients on size fractionation in phytoplankton. Other research projects he worked on (at WVU) were: quantification of denitrification by soil microbial processes in the Mon National Forest and the effects of elevated UV-B radiation on litter decomposition. The denitrification paper is in press. He also worked on what might be called "his first love" - plants - as an herbarium assistant on the WV Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program's Floral Atlas.
He reported some difficulty in making the decision to attend law school, but made the choice because he wanted to make a difference as an environmental advocate. He may still have some misgivings about this decision, but regardless, he is very happy to have been offered the position as a legal fellow with the WV Highlands Conservancy.
He is now working on becoming acquainted with the complex legal fabric of the Endangered Species Act. He describes his first several weeks on the job as "having immersed myself in the Act itself," along with relevant law reviews and cases with the goal of applying this new knowledge to the WVHC interest in saving the Blackwater Canyon. As time permits, he plans to work on similar factors concerning the species degradation that accompanies valley fills and mountain top removal strip mining in southern West Virginia.