The Hughes Center is pleased to announce two new members to the Board of Directors — Christopher S. Zarba, former director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board, and Joshua A. Hastings, deputy director of the Lower Shore Land Trust.
The two join a Board of Directors with diverse representation, including experts from the farming community and environmental communities, nonprofits, industry groups, academia and state lawmakers.
Mr. Zarba has a 38-year career serving as a scientist and manager at the Environmental Protection Agency. During his career, Mr. Zarba led a variety of science-based efforts to support Agency programs and activities including leading teams to develop the science for cleaning up hazardous waste sites, identifying and designating ocean disposal sites and writing regulations to protect wetlands. Mr. Zarba served in a variety of management positions including director of EPA’s National Centre for Environmental Research, chief of staff for EPAs research office and director of the agency’s Science Advisory Board Staff Office.
He is currently a member of the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center board of directors. Mr. Zarba holds degrees in environmental science from the State University of New York at Morrisville and the University of Montana.
“I am excited about the possibility of using my science and management background on the Hughes Center Board to support a better, more sustainable Chesapeake Bay watershed,” Mr. Zarba said. “I look forward to learning how industry, agriculture, aquaculture can work more cooperatively and sustainably. There is much that needs to be learned and done and I wish to be part of that.”
Mr. Hastings is the deputy director of the Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) and serves as the coordinator for the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network. He grew up on a poultry farm in Wicomico County and Maryland’s very first certified organic farm. Before joining the Lower Shore Land Trust, Josh spent seven years as the policy manager for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and spent the two prior years as the legislative assistant to the chairman of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in the Maryland State Senate.
In 2015, he was appointed by Gov. Hogan to serve on the Maryland Rural Legacy Advisory Committee and spent five years on the Executive Committee of the Rural Maryland Council. Mr. Hastings serves on the Steering Committee of the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative and is a LEAD Maryland (Class VIII) alumnus. In 2018, Mr. Hastings was elected to the Wicomico County Council. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from Salisbury University and has earned a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
“I’ve long admired the Hughes Center and have worked with Agro-Ecology staff on multiple projects over the last decade,” Mr. Hastings said. “I simply wish to learn how I can be helpful in enhancing the organization’s effectiveness as well as improve its reach. I want to continue to make sure the Hughes Center is a trusted, respected and influential organization.”