Appalachian Trail Conservancy President and CEO Sandra Marra Announces Retirement

Marra lays the groundwork for New Leadership in 2026

HARPERS FERRY, W.V. — Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) President and CEO Sandra (Sandi) Marra, 66, who has led the nonprofit through a transformative and sustained period of growth amidst unprecedented challenges and threats to the world-renowned Appalachian Trail experience, today announced that she will conclude her service as the nonprofit’s leader in January 2026.

Since Marra took office in July of 2019 as the 10^th leader in Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s 100-year history, she has worked tirelessly to manage and protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. As the only non-profit devoted exclusively to the entirety of the Trail and its landscape, the ATC endeavors to keep its vast natural and scenic beauty healthy, resilient and connected so that everyone can experience its transformative power for generations to come. Together with many supporters, partners, and thousands of volunteers, the Appalachian Trail and surrounding landscape have endured as a source of adventure, inspiration and community during a dynamic period in U.S. history.

“Working alongside our staff, volunteers, Club leaders, fellow Trail and related conservation NGOs, A.T. Community™ members and federal partners during my time with the ATC has been one of my greatest honors,” Marra remarked. “They have inspired me with their passion, dedication and resilience, especially during these most challenging times for our Trail, public lands, country and the world. I’ve seen this organization accomplish unimaginable things in the past seven years, all in service to the Trail, its millions of annual visitors and the surrounding landscape that provides a haven to thousands of wildlife species. I’m deeply proud and grateful for all that we have accomplished together.”

When Marra joined ATC in 2019, the organization was at a pivotal moment. Evolving from a Conference to Conservancy had been a long process, and it was clear that to meet future needs, the ATC had to expand both the scope and scale of its work to encompass not only management of the treadway but also the surrounding landscape if the A.T. experience was to persevere. In partnership with the ATC board of directors and an incredibly talented and visionary staff, Marra and the team developed strategies and goals that moved ATC from primarily a trail-maintaining organization to a recognized leader in East Coast landscape conservation and protection.

Simultaneously, due to unprecedented challenges — including increased visitor use following a global pandemic, extreme weather events, incompatible development and invasive insects and plants threatening the integrity of the ecosystem — the ATC recognized the need to approach all its work with an eye to long-term sustainability and the essential role that future generations will play in carrying forth the mantel of stewardship.

As the nonprofit organization celebrates its centennial in 2025, it is well on the path to meeting all these goals. Through programs such as the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership and the Wild East Action Fund, the ATC continues to foster and support significant land protection efforts around the A.T., including the protection of 850 acres beneath the popular McAfee Knob in the Catawba Valley of Virginia in 2023.

Through strategic long-term natural resource stewardship, the ATC is leading efforts to restore ecologically important habitats for imperiled species and ensure an exceptional hiking experience, from spruce fir restoration in the Southern Appalachians to reconnecting fish passage in Maine.

“During Sandi Marra’s tenure, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has further established itself as an international leader in long trail stewardship and conservation,” said James LaTorre, chair of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Board of Directors. “Since she took office, the ATC has improved by every relevant measure. We will celebrate what we have achieved and continue to achieve under President Marra’s leadership. And, in the coming weeks, the Board of Directors will announce steps toward identifying a successor, including forming a search committee that will represent Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s many constituencies.”

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Trail progressed significantly under Marra’s leadership. The ATC is actively addressing sustainability issues through a robust Visitor Use Management program, a sustainable overnight site project, and, when appropriate, rerouting the trail to more sustainable and weather resilient locations, including a significant reroute in 2022 around the Super Fund Site in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Work continues to restore and rebuild a large swath of the Trail in the South that has been devastated by Hurricane Helene.

To ensure future engaged stewards, the ATC has strengthened outreach to younger and more diverse audiences. Its annual Emerging Leaders’ Summits and the Next Generation Advisory Council continue to provide meaningful engagement opportunities for youth and young adults and opportunities for ATC staff and leadership to benefit from their expertise and perspectives. The ATC continues to partner with and support the 30 Trail maintaining clubs through training and outreach, as well as to facilitate connecting people who want to volunteer with specific opportunities within their local clubs.

Marra also developed a significant presence and voice for the A.T. on Capitol Hill, including an active A.T. Caucus, annual Hike the Hill participation and the introduction of the Appalachian Trail Centennial Act that aims to better coordinate resources and partners for all national trails, bolster land protection, and gather data and information on the visitation and economic benefits to ensure these special places are maintained and conserved for the next generation. Her focus on creating a culture of philanthropy within ATC has set the organization on a trajectory of success at the start of its second century.

“As we observe the centennial anniversary of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Sandi Marra has been an exceptional leader of this organization and the work it undertakes to ensure that Virginians and travelers from around the world can enjoy our treasured trail,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). “Last year, I was glad to work with Sandi, the ATC community and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing legislation to strengthen the public-private partnerships that preserve, maintain and manage national trails across the country. Sandi’s expertise and leadership were crucial to that introduction, and we will do all that we can to honor her tenure’s legacy by getting it across the finish line in Congress. In the meantime, I’d like to thank Sandi for all she’s done to bring folks together in service of the A.T.”

As the recognized partner of the National Park Service in the National Trails System Act, the ATC has also worked closely with every administration and a broad diversity of members of Congress to support national scenic and historical trails and strengthen the role of public-private partnerships.

Marra came to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy after serving as ATC Board Chair since 2013. Originally committed to an interim role, she agreed to the ongoing CEO and President role at the request of the Board of Directors in 2020.  Marra will remain President and CEO through the 2025 calendar year. Over the balance of the year, Marra will lay the groundwork for a smooth transition to new leadership of the organization.

Marra was on the ATC Board of Managers from 1999 to 2005 and played a significant role in leading the organization through its transition from Conference to Conservancy. She was a member of the first ATC Stewardship Council, which was convened in 2005. She joined the Board of Directors in 2008 and has chaired both the Membership and Development Committee and the Strategic Directions Committee.

Before taking on the role of ATC President and CEO, Marra held a wide range of roles in service of the Trail and the Conservancy. She has served as an A.T. volunteer for over 40 years and is an Honorary Life Member and former President of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and an Honorary Member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. In addition, she is a life member of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA), a Founding Member of the Appalachian Trail Museum, and, in 2009, was the recipient of the Appalachian Scenic Trail 25-year Service Award. She and her husband maintain three miles of the Appalachian Trail in northern Virginia and are co-managers of PATC’s Blackburn Trail Center.

“All these years of volunteering, serving as the caretakers at Blackburn, then having the opportunity to come onboard in this leadership position; it is a true honor and a capstone experience after a lifetime of dedication to the Trail,” said Marra. “My husband and I are looking forward to traveling in our camper and having the time for me to continue to hike my A.T. hike — 1,200 miles and counting!”

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Board of Directors will provide more information this spring regarding the recruitment and hiring process for the next President and CEO of the ATC.

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Founded in 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy works passionately to manage and protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. As the only non-profit devoted exclusively to the entirety of the Trail and its landscape, we endeavor to keep its vast natural and scenic beauty healthy, resilient, and connected, so that everyone can experience its transformative power for generations to come. Together with our supporters, partners, and thousands of volunteers, we keep the Trail alive.

Media Contacts:
Ann Simonelli, Director of Communications, 304.885.0482, asimonelli@appalachiantrail.org
Jeri Ward, Chief Growth Officer, 304.885.0793, jward@appalachiantrail.org