Rupert Cutler's love for the environment stems from his parents’ love for the outdoors, his time spent in boy scouts, and from Audubon Youth of Detroit field and camping trips. Cutler states that if he were to trace a thread through his career, his “B.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Michigan in June 1955 eventually led to [his] becoming the chief executive officer of Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C. in 1987.” His time studying at Michigan prepared him to make a substantial impact within the environmental world. Cutler's storied career includes positions on various nonprofit staffs and boards, such as the National Audubon Society and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, helping pass environmental legislation, and serving in positions on the Roanoke, Virginia, city council.

Throughout Cutler’s diverse professional history—ranging from politics, business, and activism—his dedication to the environment stands out. But upon reflection, he is most proud of the time he served within the Jimmy Carter Administration as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. In this position, Cutler was able to conduct an inventory and analysis of the roadless areas of every National Forest to determine which areas qualified for addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Some of Cutler’s work from this time in his career is now stored within the President Jimmy Carter National Library archives, University of Michigan Bentley Library, the Carter archives, and the Virginia Tech Special Collections Library. Cutler finds that the documentation and preservation of records of his lifelong conservation highlights that “one person, day by day, can contribute to the grand sweep of environmental protection initiatives in the United States.” This mentality has spurred him on throughout his experiences within local and national organizations.