President
lschmalz@savethesound.org
203-787-0646 x121
Leah became president in October 2022.
In her previous role as Vice President of Programs, she oversaw Save the Sound’s Climate & Resiliency, Healthy Waters, Protected Lands, Ecological Restoration, and Communications departments. She manages a team of advocacy, engineering, science, and communication specialists and develops campaigns to protect the land, air, and water of Connecticut, Westchester, New York City, and Long Island.
A long-time environmental advocate who currently lives in Collinsville, CT, her focus on the intersection of climate change, resiliency, and health grew after Hurricane Katrina devastated her home state of Louisiana. Schmalz earned her J.D. and Environmental Law Certificate from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY, and her undergraduate study in sustainable architecture and design culminated in a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the University of Louisiana. She joined Save the Sound as its staff attorney in 2001 and became its head of programs in 2018.