Prior to falling in love with Hendersonville, Mary Ellen Kustin was director of policy for public lands at the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, DC. There she developed and implemented strategies to advance sustainable environmental policy on Capitol Hill. Before joining CAP, she was a senior policy analyst on food, agriculture, and conservation issues at the Environmental Working Group. Mary Ellen has also worked on conservation and environmental campaigns for the Pew Charitable Trusts and the National Wildlife Federation.
Born and raised in the Carolinas, Mary Ellen enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, kids, and hound dogs. Her love of the natural world and volunteerism are reflected in her service on Hendersonville's Environmental Sustainability Board. She holds a master of science degree in sustainable development and conservation biology, as well as a master’s degree in public policy, focusing on environmental policy, from the University of Maryland. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of South Carolina.