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COLUMBIA, S.C. (Nov. 4, 2024)— ̽����ѡ South Carolina is excited to announce the addition of key leadership to further advance its mission to protect birds and the places they need in the Palmetto State and beyond.

Merrill McGregor will serve as ̽����ѡ South Carolina's new Policy Director, bringing 15 years of experience in legislative advocacy and policy analysis to the role. McGregor will spearhead the development and execution of an ambitious, bipartisan, science-based policy agenda focused on protecting South Carolina’s working lands, safeguarding its coasts, conserving its waters, and tackling the causes and effects of climate change for the benefit of birds and people alike.

“Merrill is a true force at the State House, with a well-earned reputation for her strategic leadership and ability to bring together diverse groups under the most challenging circumstances,” said Rebecca Haynes, Executive Director of ̽����ѡ South Carolina. “Her proven track record of advancing bipartisan policies will be invaluable to ̽����ѡ as we continue to champion strong conservation measures to tackle some of the toughest issues in South Carolina.”

McGregor joins ̽����ѡ after building a distinguished career with the Coastal Conservation League, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Government Relations. During her tenure, McGregor led legislative strategies focused on coastal management, wildlife habitat preservation, and renewable energy, helping secure significant bipartisan legislative victories on ̽����ѡ-shared priorities, including passing the SC Energy Freedom Act, permanently reauthorizing the SC Conservation Bank, and the creation of the SC Office of Resilience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in international business from the College of Charleston.

̽����ѡ South Carolina is also pleased to announce the recent hire of Erin Rogers, who started as Coastal Program Manager in June. Rogers comes to the organization after seven years with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, where she gained extensive experience in marsh bird surveys, habitat management, and saltmarsh restoration in her roles as a wetland and marsh bird biologist.

“Erin’s knowledge of saltmarsh ecosystems and resilience, coupled with her collaborative approach, is exactly what we need to protect critical habitats along South Carolina’s coast,” said Sherri Fields, Conservation Director at ̽����ѡ South Carolina. “Her work will be instrumental in safeguarding numerous threatened species, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow and Black Rail, while also advancing our broader coastal stewardship and restoration efforts.”

Rogers is responsible for overseeing ̽����ѡ South Carolina’s growing coastal program, which protects rapidly declining coastal bird species and their habitats through restoration, stewardship, and education, while prioritizing efforts that increase climate resilience and create co-benefits for frontline communities. Rogers holds a Master of Science in biological sciences and GIS certificate from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Science in biology from SUNY Geneseo.

The appointment of McGregor and Rogers is a boon to the organization as it continues to advance its goals and priorities under “Flight Plan” — ̽����ѡ’s bold, five-year strategic plan aimed at reversing the alarming decline in bird populations by safeguarding critical habitats, driving urgent action on climate change, and building a community of passionate supporters across the hemisphere who are committed to building a more resilient future for birds and people alike

About ̽����ѡ South Carolina

̽����ѡ South Carolina protects birds and the places they need, right here in South Carolina. We’re the state office of the ̽����ѡ, which has more than one million members and a century-long track record of success. In South Carolina, we represent nearly 30,000 ̽����ѡ members and supporters, nine ̽����ѡ chapters and bird club partners, two ̽����ѡ sanctuaries, one nature center, and more than 30,000 acres of land that we own or manage using bird- and climate-friendly forestry. Learn more about what we do and how to help at sc.audubon.org. Follow us on Facebook at @scaudubon and Instagram at @audubon_sc.

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