On Tues., Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointed of Sophia Danenberg as the newest member of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Danenberg is a senior program manager and leads international environmental policy analysis at The Boeing Company. She came to Boeing from United Technologies where she managed global environment, health and safety legislative and regulatory affairs, environmental technology programs, and energy efficiency and indoor air quality projects with governments, universities and businesses in Europe and Asia
Danenberg was initially drawn to Washington by the access to the outdoors and said she believes public lands are an invaluable asset to both individuals and businesses in Washington state. She is an outdoor enthusiast and is an avid climber, hiker and mountaineer. She also enjoys snowboarding, skiing and cycling. In 2006, Sophia became the first African-American to summit Mount Everest.
Before starting her career, Danenberg was a Fulbright Fellow at Keio University in Tokyo. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard in environmental sciences and public policy and completed graduate courses in environmental economics and law at the University of Connecticut. Danenberg is on the boards of NatureBridge and SheJumps. She also has served on the young professionals’ committees for the World Affairs Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as the vice-chair of her local Sierra Club Inner City Outings, a track and field official for Special Olympics, and a mentor for the Passages Northwest Girls Rock program, among other roles.
Danenberg’s term runs through Dec. 31, 2020. She is filling the post of former Commissioner Pat Lantz of Gig Harbor, who retired from her position Aug. 31, 2019. She will begin her service at this week’s Commission meeting in Richland.
