Liz Zepeda
Federal Regulatory Director
Based in the D.C. office, Liz helps SELC’s issue experts develop strategies to advance the organization’s mission in the executive branch. She coordinates SELC’s engagement with federal regulations and other agency actions.
“I’m extremely proud of our work as an advocate for NEPA, which is frequently misunderstood but a powerful tool to increase resilience and equity across our region,” Liz says. “I’m really excited about SELC’s increased focus on climate resilience and environmental justice, and especially the intersection of the two. Many agencies are trying to do better in these areas, and I think we can do a lot of good by sharing our experiences and expertise.”
Liz’s first experience with SELC was as a summer intern in the Charlottesville office in 2009. After law school, she spent almost 12 years working with environmental regulations at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she focused on NEPA, floodplain management, and climate adaptation.
Liz is originally from the D.C. suburbs in Burke, Virginia, and now lives in Baltimore. “I’ve loved hiking for as long as I can remember, so Shenandoah National Park is particularly special for me,” she says. “As a kid, I felt so lucky to live in such a beautiful state, and I have a lot of fond memories of traveling along Skyline Drive, camping and hiking with my family, and just being in the mountains as much as possible.”
Previous experience
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, senior environmental specialist
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, presidential management fellow
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center; Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, executive board
- B.A., University of Mary Washington, magna cum laude
- With SELC since 2022