The waterway-restoring nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore has hired one of its board members with decades of environmental advocacy and policy experience in Maryland to be its new permanent director.
Jenn Aiosa will start as executive director in late June, according to an email announcement from board chair Fiona Newton. Aiosa has served on Blue Water Baltimore’s board for four years, most recently as vice chair of its governance committee and chair of its policy and advocacy committee.
She’s leaving her current post as vice president and director of programs for the Annapolis-based Chesapeake Conservancy. Before taking that position in 2015, she worked as acting director of operations and director of policy research in the State Department of Planning, was a senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for 12 years and served as a legislative assistant for retired Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, among other jobs.
Aiosa has a master’s degree in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in marine science from the University of South Carolina.
“I’m absolutely thrilled at the opportunity,” Aiosa said on a phone call Tuesday. “Blue Water Baltimore is…an organization that I truly believe is poised to do some amazing things relative to improving water quality and community engagement in and around Baltimore.”
Asked about Aiosa’s departure, a spokeswoman for the Chesapeake Conservancy said, “It’s truly a dream job for her and we’ll miss her greatly.”
Newton thanked interim executive director Carl Simon for his time filling in for Halle Van der Gaag, who abruptly resigned as director in December.
“He has done an excellent job in managing the organization through a challenging transitional phase,” wrote Newton. He’ll stay on with the nonprofit in a “vital leadership role,” she said.
Simon couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday. He’s listed online as the group’s director of programs.
Particularly, Newton thanked Simon for leading the group through its recent move to Remington, a change announced on Facebook in April. Aiosa said Blue Water Baltimore had outgrown its old space on Belair Road, and opted for a larger location at 2631 Sisson Street.
“I’m really thrilled that Carl is going to stay with the organization,” said Aiosa. “He and I have an excellent working relationship,” added Aiosa.
Her first day as executive director will be June 26.
