Dear LSPA Members, Friends, and the Larger Community:

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Mariellen Morris as our new Executive Director, effective this Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Ms. Morris comes to the LSPA with over 20 years of experience in professional association management with expertise in strategic planning, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement. During her many years at the Boston-based Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, she successfully led initiatives in program development for both in-person and virtual platforms, alongside efforts in partnership building, membership growth, resource utilization, and volunteer engagement. Ms. Morris holds a BA in Communications from Westfield State University, and an MA in Organizational Communication from Suffolk University.

I was able to informally introduce Mariellen to the community at our 3rd annual Environmental Symposium on April 15th where she was able to meet many LSPA members in person. She has also met with staff and become familiar with the LSPA strategic plan as well as some of our programs.

The LSPA Board believes that Mariellen’s skill set is what is needed to guide the LSPA as it continues to evolve. Building on our strong foundation, we look forward to the next LSPA era.  Our outgoing Executive Director Wendy Rundle, who announced her retirement last fall, will stay on with the LSPA for several weeks in a part-time capacity to introduce Mariellen to association operations and act as an onboarding resource.

Mariellen says she is “excited to work closely with Michelle, Kristi, and the entire LSPA Board in the months ahead to support the organization’s mission and strengthen member engagement. Building meaningful, collaborative relationships across the LSPA community is a top priority for me. I look forward to participating in committee and board meetings and engaging with MassDEP and the LSP Board of Registration. Most of all, I’m eager to connect with members directly—to listen, learn, and gain a deeper understanding of the issues, concerns, and opportunities that matter most to you.”

I will formally introduce Mariellen at the next LSPA member meeting, which will be held via Zoom on May 13, 2025, at 3:45pm. More details are here. In the meantime, she can be contacted at [email protected].  

On behalf of the LSPA Board, 

Joseph Roman, LSP
LSPA President