National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 40

YEO Bios
Danielle Adams

District Supervisor
Durham, North Carolina
Danielle Adams serves on the Soil and Water Conservation District Board
of Supervisors in Durham, North Carolina. In 2012, she received the
Outstanding District Supervisor of the Year award from the North Carolina
Association of Soil and Water Conservation Di stricts (NCASWCD), and was
honored by Spectacular Magazine as the “Woman of the Year: Emerging
Leader” award recipient. Adams has previously served as the alternative
transportation project manager in the Office of Sustainability at Appalachian State University and
has worked with the International Affairs Council–Middle East Partnership Initiative of the U.S.
Department of State. Currently, Adams serves on the board of directors for the Upper Neuse River
Basin Association, on the Legislative Committee of NCASWCD, and as an ambassador to Oxfam
America’s Sisters on the Planet program. She received her B.A. in political science with a minor in
music from North Carolina Central University. @danielleadamsnc

James Albis

State Representative
East Haven, Connecticut
State Representative James Albis is currently serving his third term in
the Connecticut General Assembly representing his hometown of East
Haven. Albis was appointed Chairman of the Environment Committee,
and also serves on several other committees. The Connecticut League
of Conservation Voters recognized Albis as a legislative champion from
2012-2014 for his work on coastal resilience and climate adaptation. Albis
played an active role in passing bills advancing coastal issues, strengthening condominium law, and
promoting organ donation awareness. Albis is a strong advocate for education, voting to protect
East Haven’s share of state education aid, as well as expanding the Family Resource Center. He has
worked to protect Medicaid and expand access to quality health care for seniors. Albis attended
New York University and in 2005, he spent a semester at NYU’s campus in Florence, Italy, studying
international economics. He graduated from NYU in 2006 with a B.A. in economics. @RepAlbis

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Benjamin Allen
State Senator

Santa Monica, California
Benjamin Allen serves in the California State Senate. Prior, he served on
the Santa Monica-Malibu School Board and is the board’s immediate past
president. Allen is an attorney with the law firm Richardson & Patel LLP
and an adjunct faculty member at UCLA Law School, where he teaches
education law and policy. Allen serves on the executive board of the L.A.
County School Trustees Association, and as vice president of the county’s
Committee on School District Organization. While in law school, Allen served on the University of
California’s Board of Regents and as a judicial clerk at the Rwanda war crimes tribunal. Allen was a