Sisterhood Spotlight

How does your background with Chesapeake Bay restoration inform your work as Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources?

I originally joined the Youngkin administration to lead Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay efforts, and that work continues in my role as Secretary. From my background in the agriculture industry, I know that collaborative, voluntary-driven approaches are the best strategies for achieving a healthier Bay. This iconic landmark is a crown jewel of Virginia’s natural resources, and I am fortunate to be able to lead initiatives pertaining to oysters, wetlands, agricultural best management practices, and more, that position the Commonwealth for continued success in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

You oversee agencies ranging from Environmental Quality to Historic Resources. What are your priorities to protect Virginia’s air, water, land, and historic sites?

Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership, our Secretariat has worked to achieve three overarching priorities of enhancing tools for conservation and preservation, increasing Virginian experiences, and improving customer service for Virginians. This includes a focus on water quality and the Chesapeake Bay, permitting efficiency and transparency, regulatory burden reduction, outdoor recreation, resiliency, land conservation, and historic preservation.

Having grown up on a farm in Southampton County, how does that personal connection to the land influence your approach to conservation, preservation, and stewardship today?

As anyone involved in the agriculture industry can attest, farming is a way of life, and that never leaves you, even if you no longer live on the operation. Farmers are uniquely vested in serving as good stewards of our natural resources, and it is both personally and professionally rewarding to be able to bring those connections to this role.

For Virginians who want to get more involved, what resources or programs would you point them to in order to better protect and enjoy our natural and historic treasures?

The five state agencies under the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources are a wealth of knowledge and opportunities. To give just a few examples: o The Department of Wildlife Resources’ Virginia Outdoor Women program (VOW) is designed to help women of all skill levels feel comfortable and confident in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and other outdoor skills.

For young people looking for career opportunities, the Marine Resources Commission offers the Commercial Waterman’s Apprentice Program to help individuals as young as 12 learn commercial fishing trades and develop professional workforce skills. 
The Virginia Permit Transparency tracking system provides the public a centralized platform to track the daily status and timeline of critical steps for Commonwealth of Virginia permits, including those issued by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Marine Resources Commission.

The Department of Historic Resources has created an online “Places Explorer” to learn about Virginia’s history, culture, and communities. And of course, make sure to visit one of our 43 beautiful state parks managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation!

About Stefanie

Prior to joining the Youngkin Administration, Stefanie was Associate Director of Governmental Relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, where she led policy efforts related to farmland preservation, wildlife and game laws, animal welfare, and animal-based commodities. She has also served as the Commissioner’s Office Director at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and as a legislative aide in the Virginia General Assembly.

Stefanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Poultry Sciences and a Master of Public Administration, both from Virginia Tech. She was a member of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program Class IV. She grew up on a row crop farm in Southampton County, Virginia and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and their 2-year old daughter.