OLYMPIA – Sept. 17, 2019 – Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Sophia Danenberg of Seattle as the newest member of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Sophia Danenberg is a senior program manager and leads international environmental policy analysis at The Boeing Company. She came to Boeing from United Technologies where she managed global environment, health and safety legislative and regulatory affairs, environmental technology programs, and energy efficiency and indoor air quality projects with governments, universities and businesses in Europe and Asia.
Danenberg was initially drawn to Washington by the access to the outdoors and said she believes public lands are an invaluable asset to both individuals and businesses in Washington state. She is an outdoor enthusiast and is an avid climber, hiker and mountaineer. She also enjoys snowboarding, skiing and cycling. In 2006, Sophia became the first African-American to summit Mount Everest.
Before starting her career, Danenberg was a Fulbright Fellow at Keio University in Tokyo. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard in environmental sciences and public policy and completed graduate courses in environmental economics and law at the University of Connecticut. Danenberg is on the boards of NatureBridge and SheJumps. She also has served on the young professionals' committees for the World Affairs Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as the vice-chair of her local Sierra Club Inner City Outings, a track and field official for Special Olympics, and a mentor for the Passages Northwest Girls Rock program, among other roles.
Danenberg’s term runs through Dec. 31, 2020. She is filling the post of former Commissioner Pat Lantz of Gig Harbor, who retired from her position Aug. 31, 2019. She will begin her service at this week’s Commission meeting in Richland. More information and the agenda for this meeting are here: https://parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=541.
About the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission comprises seven volunteer citizens appointed by the governor to serve in six-year terms. The Commission provides policy direction to the agency that operates and cares for one of the largest, most diverse state park systems in the country, with 125 parks, approximately 120,000 acres, heritage sites, marine parks and statewide programs such as winter recreation, boating safety and long-distance recreation trails. The Commission meets six times a year in pre-determined locations around the state. For more information, visit: https://parks.state.wa.us/162/Commissioners.
News media contacts:
Sandy Mealing, Communications Manager, (360) 902-8559
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
News release number: 19-073