Dear colleagues and friends of NEEF:

We write to inform you that Diane Wood, NEEF's President and CEO, has decided to retire after 12 years as head of the organization.  While we would have been delighted if Diane had decided to remain in her position longer, we support her decision as she plans to embark on what she refers to as her "gap year" to spend time enjoying her family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

We and the NEEF Board are grateful for her years of outstanding service, and we are pleased that she has agreed to stay on until we have appointed her successor, which we expect will occur sometime early next year.

We have created a Search Committee that will be chaired by NEEF vice chair, Megan Reilly Cayten, to identify the next NEEF President and CEO. We will select a search firm in September to assist us in finding a new leader to step into this role during these important times.

NEEF is in an extraordinarily strong position. Through Diane’s steady hand, NEEF’s budget has doubled and the organization has taken on a bold vision, settling for nothing less than reaching 300 million people in this country by 2022, through ambitious environmental education programs in partnership with others.  We are especially appreciative of Diane’s commitment to NEEF’s Congressional mandate to advance environmental literacy through public-private partnerships.  She has developed strong, productive relationships with the EPA throughout three different Administrations and assembled excellent ex-officio board representation from a range of federal agencies who work with our governing board appointed from the private sector. She oversaw a complete rebranding effort, giving NEEF and its environmental education programs increased recognition in this country.

Diane is the first to say that NEEF’s successes are due to the dedicated staff. She has built an excellent senior team who are well placed to attract outstanding candidates for this crucial work achieving NEEF’s purpose: helping all Americans understand their relationship to our natural environment so they may, through environmental education, secure a safer and healthier world for ourselves, our children and future generations.

Her contributions are many but we are most appreciative of the wisdom, passion, and integrity she has brought to NEEF. For now, however, we know Diane will be as dedicated as ever moving NEEF forward and working with us to find a new leader. 

Please feel free to contact either of us should you have any questions.  We will let you know as soon as we have selected a search firm with whom we hope you will share potential candidates.

Sincerely,

Carlos Alcazar, Chairman
Megan Reilly Cayten, Vice Chair, Chair of the Selection Committee