Susan Cochrane Levitsky

Director-Environmental and Sustainability Programs

Susan Cochrane Levitsky has focused her career on the conservation of natural resources and understanding and mitigating the negative impacts human have on the environment.

In 1989, Susan was the first woman appointed to a senior policy-level management position in the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). As Chief of the Natural Heritage Division, Susan oversaw statewide policy and implementation for numerous new programs for over a decade. She directed multi-million dollar budgets for programs to conserve and enhance endangered species and biological diversity, including the largest-in-the-nation California Natural Diversity Data Base, a state partnership with The Nature Conservancy.

Throughout her 29-year career with the CDFG, Susan was commended for her vision, collaboration skills, and management capabilities. She created partnerships that established cutting-edge new environmental programs to protect the State’s resources, as well as secured support from the Legislature for programs to provide staffing

throughout the state. She managed the development of the California Wildlands Interpretive Program, resulting in formation of the Common Ground for Wildlife Committee, the California Wildlife Foundation, major fund-raising events for the Department, and the California Wildlife Campaign.

Susan led interagency staffing of the precedent-setting Biodiversity Council, headed by the State Resources Agency Secretary to bring together state and federal natural resources leadership to discuss ongoing conservation needs and actions in meetings throughout all regions of the state. She chaired the Council’s Science Coordination Committee to ensure data sharing and streamlining within all 36 member agencies.

Next, Susan managed California’s Endangered Plants Program, overseeing species listings and their conservation needs, securing funding and contributing significantly to the legislation enacted as the 1984 California Endangered Species Act. Susan was the Department’s Conservation Planner and Community Liaison for conservation issues in the Lake Tahoe region for five years prior to her retirement from state service. Currently, Susan volunteers for several non-profits.

Among other recognitions, she has received:

· California Senate Resolution Commendation for Service

· Sustained Accomplishment Award from California Biodiversity Council

· U.S. Forest Service Certificate of Appreciation

· The Nature Conservancy Certificate of Recognition

· Sustained Superior Accomplishment Award, California Department of Fish and Game

Susan holds a degree in Environmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.