Lori Cary-Kothera joined the Coastal Conservation League in 2025 as Chief Conservation Officer, bringing more than two decades of leadership in national climate and coastal policy through her tenure at the EPA, NOAA, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She holds a B.S. in Biology/Environmental Science from Bowling Green State University and an M.S. in Oceanography from the Florida Institute of Technology. Having lived in the Charleston area for over 30 years, Lori is dedicated to advancing community-centered conservation and resilience along South Carolina’s coast.