Carroll Courtenay

Senior Attorney

Carroll is a member of the SELC Virginia Land & Community team, working to advance clean transportation policies and stop destructive and harmful projects—especially those that impact communities facing environmental injustice. Carroll’s practice includes work on emerging issues such as gold mining in the state, as well as zoning matters and historic preservation efforts.  

One of Carroll’s greatest accomplishments is helping to persuade Virginia to adopt Clean Car standards.. “These standards pave the way for more electric vehicles to come to Virginia,” she says. “Since the transportation sector is Virginia’s largest source of carbon pollution, the adoption of these standards was the single biggest step Virginia could take towards tackling climate pollution.”  

Carroll also works on water issues. She leads SELC’s work involving industrial chemicals like PFAS in Virginia, making sure industrial facilities—not downstream communities—bear the burden of removing harmful chemicals from their wastewater before they get into our waterways.

Getting to work at SELC protecting the places and communities I love is a dream job.

Carroll Courtenay

Growing up, her family climbed Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park every New Year’s Day, and that remains a special place for Carroll. “The trail would be relatively empty for such a popular hike, and some of my fondest—and coldest—memories are eating sardines and Ritz crackers with family at the summit.”

• J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
• B.A., University of Richmond, magna cum laude