Alys is a founding principal at Engage and a seasoned strategist with more than thirty-five years of experience in advocacy and public policy. She has advised members of Congress, leading environmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, candidates, and companies on advancing solutions at the intersection of climate, conservation, and equity.
From 2023 to 2026, Alys launched and led the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Climate Initiative, directing efforts across six Southern states to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and strengthen community resilience to climate impacts. Earlier in her career, she helped build and lead the External Affairs department at the Center for American Progress—one of the nation’s most influential think tanks—served as legislative director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and worked as a legislative aide in both the U.S. House and Senate. She began her career with the National Audubon Society and the Nathan Cummings Foundation in New York.
Alys holds degrees with honors from Wesleyan University and New York University. She divides her time between Charleston, South Carolina, and Gerton, North Carolina, chairs the board of Charleston Waterkeeper, and supports a wide range of community organizations and civic causes. When she’s not working, she can often be found “land snorkeling” along a trail or shoreline, exploring the natural world that has inspired her career.