September 5, 2024

Department of Ecology

Benjamin

The Department of Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) named Rebecca Benjamin as its new director. She joins Ecology after a long career serving in leadership positions for environmental nonprofit entities. Most recently, Benjamin served as the executive director for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition where she helped build the grassroots organization into a leader for salmon habitat restoration on the north Olympic Peninsula. Benjamin earned her bachelor's degree in environmental conservation with a minor in outdoor education from the University of New Hampshire. She also has led executive leadership training and outdoor group facilitation for companies such as Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Microsoft, and Seattle University. She also has decades of experience working in partnership with WCC programs and was a WCC individual placement member in the 1990s where she supported salmon habitat restoration activities with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. WCC is an AmeriCorps program housed in Ecology that provides hands-on career training opportunities for young adults and military veterans. AmeriCorps members in the WCC support critical environmental projects, including invasive species removal, native plant installation, wetland restoration, wildland fire mitigation, and trail and campground improvements. WCC also supports local and national disaster relief efforts as an AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. WCC is currently recruiting AmeriCorps members for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Additional information is available at WCCActivities@ecy.wa.gov.