Lee Heller, Sabrina Venskus and Naomi Kovas have joined the Environmental Defense Center’s Board of Directors.
The three bring years of experience to the leadership team.
Dr. Heller is a longtime environmental and animal welfare activist. She returns to the EDC Board after a three-year absence.
She served as the board president in 2015 and the longtime chair of EDC’s annual fundraiser. In 2016, Cox Communications and The Trusts for Public Land named Dr. Heller as Santa Barbara’s Cox Conserves Hero for her work in creating and protecting outdoor spaces.
She received her doctorate from Brandeis University and her juris doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law.
Ms. Venskus is the principal of Venskus & Associates APC, a litigation practice in Los Angeles and Ventura. Within her practice, Ms. Venskus covers issues such as environmental and natural resources, land use and zoning, and housing rights.
She received her law degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland and her bachelor’s from UCLA.
Ms. Kovacs has had a long presence in Santa Barbara. She served as district representative for Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf and executive director for both the Citizens Planning Association and Santa Barbara Village. After years as a longtime board member, Ms. Kovacs is the current president of the Santa Barbara Peace Corps Association.
She received her master’s from USC and her bachelor’s from UCSB.For more information, go to www.environmentaldefensecenter.org.
