Steve Nalefski ’83 took a childhood passion for rocks and the natural environment and turned it into a nearly 40-year career supporting clients with permitting, compliance, and remediation services to address their environmental issues. The first-generation college student flourished on campus, where he met his wife, Lori (Walenga) Nalefski ’84; gained technical competence; and enjoyed Geology Department field trips.
Appears InSteve Nalefski is now the senior vice president and general manager for the environmental services group at Burns & McDonnell, an employee-owned engineering and construction firm. He relies on past years of practical field experiences in managing soil and groundwater remediation and environmental compliance programs to connect with the over 500 employee-owners he leads.
Nalefski credits Illinois State for the problem-solving skills he now uses to confront new environmental threats, including emerging contaminants known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), prevalent compounds used to manufacture everyday items that have been found to pose risks to public health and the environment.
“Illinois State helped me to develop critical-thinking skills, especially in understanding the Earth’s dynamic system, how sedimentary rocks were deposited, or modified by metamorphic events,” said Nalefski, who since leaving campus has completed projects on every continent but Antarctica.
With optimism for future students and gratitude for past experiences, the Nalefskis have established the Steve and Lori Nalefski Endowed Scholarship for declared geology majors with demonstrated financial need. The couple hopes their gift—the largest for Geology—provides recipients time, opportunity, and financial support to cultivate future-focused geological expertise that will contribute to improving the environment in which we all live. The inaugural recipient will be selected this spring.
The Nalefskis’ generosity is a continuation of Steve’s professional emphasis on creating change through care of people and the environment. It’s a sentiment echoed by Burns & McDonnell, which Steve Nalefski said has played a role in his ability to give back. “Our company does a great job of promoting employee-ownership,” he said. “It’s all about your clients and your people. You take care of both of those, and you’ll create amazing results.”
Endowed funds provide continual support for Redbirds in need. For more information about supporting your passion at Illinois State through a scholarship or endowment, or to make a gift today, call (309) 438-8184 or visit Giving.IllinoisState.edu.
