NEIWPCC recently announced the promotion of two of its division directors to serve as co-deputy directors, beginning in October. Richard Friesner, who heads Water Quality Programs, and Christina Stringer, leader of Wastewater and Onsite Programs, will continue to oversee their respective divisions while taking on their newly expanded leadership roles. They will report directly to Executive Director Susan Sullivan.
“Richard and Christina bring extensive experience and a proven passion for our mission in advancing clean water throughout the Northeast,” said Sullivan. “This expertise will be invaluable as they manage and guide collaborative efforts across our entire organization.”
Friesner joined NEIWPCC in 2016, supervising a variety of projects ranging from harmful algal blooms, restoring and maintaining water quality in the Long Island Sound, nonpoint source pollution, and nutrient bioextraction. His background includes 10 years of experience in the fields of environmental science and policy, including work in private consulting and at the U.S. Geological Survey. Friesner holds a Ph.D. in environmental science and public policy from George Mason University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in environmental science from the University of Kansas.
Stringer joined NEIWPCC’s Water Resource Protection Division in 2018, later transitioning to director of Wastewater and Onsite Programs in 2021. She oversees NEIWPCC’s work related to wastewater management, regional environmental training, environmental professional certification, onsite/decentralized wastewater, and underground storage tanks. Her prior employment includes work with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, and Southern New Hampshire University. Stringer has her Ph.D. in geology from the University of South Florida, a master’s in chemical oceanography from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.