Influential SC environmental group’s leader is leaving amid organization changes
The leader of what historically has been South Carolina’s most influential environmental group is leaving the organization less than four years after she accepted the post.
Faith Rivers James, director of the Coastal Conservation League, confirmed reports Thursday that she has resigned from the group effective immediately, but did not elaborate.
“I’m looking forward to the next phase for me,’’ James said in a brief interview with The State. “We worked on some great things together, accomplished a lot of things, and I’m very proud of that work.’’
During a later interview, she said that the league’s board did not ask her to resign. Lori Cary-Kothera, the league’s chief conservation officer, will serve as interim director until a permanent replacement is found, the league’s board chairman said in a text.
After taking the job with the Coastal Conservation League in 2022, James dealt with the departure of multiple key staff members as she put her stamp on the organization. One change she made was a return-to-the-office policy that preceded some resignations, James said. The league had previously allowed staff members to work from home.
Some of the staffers who left had developed substantial expertise in areas such as energy, oceanfront development, sprawl and growth, and salt marshes — and their loss was felt, say those who worked with the league. All told, 38 staffers left the league from 2022 to late 2025, the Charleston newspaper, the Post and Courier, reported in a November story that highlighted issues facing the league.
Several former staff members complained privately about James’ more hands-on style, which they characterized as “micromanagement.’’ There were also complaints that the league had become hesitant to jump into some environmental disputes that it should have led on. Many current and former staff members were reluctant to speak on the record.
As director, James hired several high profile people who had worked in government for senior leadership roles. Those included former S.C. Department of Natural Resources Director Robert Boyles and Cary-Kothera, a former official at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
, Kent Griffin, the league’s board chairman, said the organization had accomplished important victories under her leadership. Those include efforts to protect St. Helena Island near Beaufort from development; expand the Lewis Ocean Bay preserve near Myrtle Beach; and “landmark’’ protections for the endangered Red Knot bird species, as well as for horseshoe crabs.
“The Coastal Conservation League looks forward to building on this strong foundation in the years ahead,’’ Griffin said in a text.
Amy Armstrong, who heads the non-profit S.C. Environmental Law Project, said she didn’t know anything first-hand about James’ resignation, but said the loss of staff members had been noticeable. The law project often does legal work for the Conservation League and must collaborate with staffers who specialize in certain areas of the environment.
“What I saw is that people were leaving — and a lot of them,’’ Armstrong said. “That made it more difficult for us.’’
Leslie Lenhardt, also an attorney with the law project, said “it was apparent’’ the league had become less interested in filing lawsuits to protect the environment.
James was only the third full-time director at the league and the first African American to oversee the organization.
The Coastal Conservation League was founded in 1989 by Dana Beach, who served for years as director until his retirement in 2017. Laura Cantral replaced him, leaving in 2022.
James, 60, came to the league with solid credentials. A Harvard University law school graduate, she had previously served as an assistant provost at The Citadel and had been involved in public advocacy and conservation work for years.
The Coastal Conservation League, the first environmental group in South Carolina known to have relied on a large full-time staff instead of volunteers, has been at the forefront of multiple battles to protect the air, water and land of the Lowcountry, but also other parts of South Carolina.
It has been able to sustain itself with a sizable endowment and through donations from environmentalists across the state and nation.
Environmentalists say a smoothly running Coastal Conservation League is vital to protect South Carolina from pollution, sprawl and other threats.
Beach said a key message he tried to send is for his staff to know the communities that members were working in, as well as with other environmental organizations.
“Our formula, or a main element of it, was very close collaboration with other groups and citizens,’’ Beach said. “It’s one thing to talk about listening to a community, but it is a different matter to actually get out, be a part of it, and understand the nuances. You really need to reinforce and double down on collaboration in a real way.’’
This story has been updated with additional comments from James, board chairman Kent Griffin and others.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 12:46 PM.
