Farewell to Longtime E&H Director Barbara Gottlieb June 25, 2024

This month we say farewell to Barb Gottlieb, longtime director of the Environment & Health program.

Barb joined the staff in 2008 as the E&H program manager, becoming deputy director in 2009 and assuming leadership of the program in 2011. Under her guidance, the Environment & Health program expanded to address a broad portfolio of topics addressing fossil fuels and their effects on climate change and health.  

Barb designed and executed projects to achieve concrete change. She also wrote or co-authored PSR reports on coal, coal ash, fracking, hydrogen blending, and the use of PFAS chemicals in oil and gas extraction. Known for producing readable text on technical topics and for her editing skills, she used to joke that it was red ink, not blood, that ran in her veins.

Her final report, with longtime coauthor Dusty Horwitt and looking at the climate and health implications of carbon capture and storage, will be released in July.

Barb was also a fundraising powerhouse. She brought in numerous foundation grants that enabled PSR chapters to participate in national E&H programs. She considered this one of her finest achievements.

In addition, Barb hired and supervised the Environment & Health staff. She is proud to leave a strong team to work with the new program director, Paige Knappenberger.

As for her immediate plans, Barb looks forward to creating a native plants garden in her front yard and doing volunteer electoral work between now and November.

We also hope that she will be staying on with PSR as a consultant, so we’re saying Au revoir – until we see you again – rather than goodbye. See you later, Barb!