Leah Lopez Schmalz recently assumed leadership of the environmental New Haven-based non-profit Save the Sound.
She took over as president in October, replacing Curt Johnson, who retired from the presidency role but will remain involved in the organization’s efforts.
Schmalz has been with the organization for more than two decades. She joined as its staff attorney in 2001, later becoming its head of programs in 2018.
In recent years, she has overseen the organization’s climate and resiliency, healthy waters, protected lands, ecological restoration and communications departments. She manages a team of advocacy, engineering, science, and communication specialists, and develops campaigns to protect the land, air, and water of Connecticut, Westchester County, New York City and Long Island.
According to Schmalz, during her tenure, she has seen the organization “bloom into a catalyst for lasting change across the region.”
“We’ll build on our well-established approach of uniting science-driven advocacy, legal expertise, on-the-ground construction and community engagement to realize significant outcomes for clean waters, resilient neighborhoods and climate action,” she said.
