Susan Smartt

An outspoken advocate and a political activist, Susan Smartt has demonstrated her commitments to the environment and to environmental education throughout her career. As executive director the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) and the CLCV Education Fund, she helped double CLCV membership. She also launched the CLCV Green California program, creating a Sacramento forum in which environmental advocates collectively identify priority legislation and work collaboratively to enact it. She was elected director of the East Bay Regional Park District, served as president of the California State Parks Foundation and was vice president of the Trust for Public Land. In 2003, the California State Parks Rangers Association recognized Susan for her hard work on behalf of California’s State Parks and named her an Honorary State Park Ranger. Susan joined NatureBridge (formerly Yosemite National Institutes) in 2008 as President and CEO. Under her leadership, NatureBridge plans to open Institutes in more National Parks, reach more urban and disadvantaged students, and double its outreach to 60,000 annually by 2018.

A resident of Oakland, CA, and an avid hiker, Susan is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a degree in accounting from San Diego State University, and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. She has served on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, Chabot Space & Science Center, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the National Women's Political Caucus – Alameda North.