Traci Sheehan was appointed Executive Director of PCL in February of 2008. She brings years of legislative and grassroots organizing experience, and also has a wide range of experience in water and land policies. Traci has extensive experience in organizational development, campaign strategy, and fundraising and development. In her role as Chief Operating Officer at PCL, Sheehan was responsible for the administration of PCL’s programs, management, and development.

Prior to PCL, she was the Director of the California Wild Heritage Campaign – an effort to provide permanent protection to millions of acres of wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers in California. As head of the Wild Heritage Campaign, Traci was instrumental in the passage of the Big Sur Wilderness Act and the Northern California Wild Heritage Act – legislation that established the Big Sur and the Lost Coast as federally-designated Wilderness.

Traci's experience with California water policy began when she was with Friends of the River, a statewide river conservation organization. As the American River Campaign Coordinator, she headed efforts to build support for cost effective and environmentally responsible flood control alternatives. Sheehan also worked in Washington D.C. as the Field and Media Director for Taxpayers for Common Sense -- an organization dedicated to saving the taxpayers money while making the government work better both in terms of fiscal responsibility and environmental protection. She also worked for several years for the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) in a variety of roles including Field Director.

Traci is an avid whitewater kayaker, mountain biker, and trail runner. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University. She enjoys exploring California's great outdoors with her husband Chris and son Mateo.