Tule Trust Hires Program Director
The Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust are pleased to announce the hiring of a new Program Director, Susan Long. Beginning January 2023, Long will manage efforts related to conservation, water, and agriculture in the Tule Subbasin by identifying resources and developing relationships and programs.
Born and raised in the Central Valley, Long comes to the Trust with 27 years of experience in affordable housing with Self-Help Enterprises; an educational background in agriculture science and business from CalPoly SLO and Fresno State; and experience in local government, community development, grant management and program implementation at the City of Corcoran. In her previous role as program director at Self-Help Enterprises, Long helped bring in $263 million dollars to secure safe, affordable housing, water, infrastructure, and services for Valley residents. Long is well suited for the role, given her passion for governmental representation, agricultural knowledge, and state agency involvement in water-related issues in the Valley.
“Those that live here [in the Valley] that see its beauty have prospered from its bounty and love calling this land home,” said Long. “I hope to bring the same level of success to the Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust that I have been so fortunate to have obtained in the housing field by securing funding and meeting the goals for groundwater recharge and conservation.”
Tule Trust Board member Samantha Arthur said, “The board of the Tule Trust is thrilled to hire Susan Long as our first Program Director, launching our organization into a new phase of work to conserve the southern San Joaquin Valley’s natural resources and support a viable farming economy. Susan brings decades of non-profit program leadership experience and a deep dedication to the communities of the San Joaquin Valley.”
The full-time Program Director position is funded through a three-year Department of Conservation grant, and the Trust expects to develop additional funding past the initial three-year period to continue creating solutions to some of the most challenging conservation issues in California.
The Tule Basin Land and Water Conservation Trust is a 501(c)3 dedicated to Protecting the southern San Joaquin Valley’s incredible natural resources and preserving a viable farming economy for the future generations.
