Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, 2017-2021. Accession 53527, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources circa January 12, 2022.

Historical Information

In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" to assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties. Compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governors top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now.

In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" to assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties. Compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governor's top management team. The Office of Secretary of Commerce and Resources was created on April 8, 1972. The Secretary of Commerce and Resources was responsible for assisting the Governor in implementing policies for the conservation and use of natural resources, for promoting economic development, providing managerial guidance and direction to Commerce and Resources agencies, and developing and promoting Commerce and Resources programs and budgets. In 1984 the Secretariat was split into two separate offices, the Secretary of Economic Development and the Secretary of Natural Resources. The Secretary of Natural Resources was responsible for the direction of, or had jurisdiction over, the following state agencies and boards: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Historic Resources, Marine Resources Commission, Museum of Natural History, and the Virginia Council on Indians. The Secretary of Natural Resources also served as the chairman of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, and was a Board Member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. Additionally, the Secretary of Natural Resources was responsible for many smaller boards and commissions related to water control, pollution, rivers, waste management, and other environmental and recreational issues.

Biographical Information

Matthew Strickler served as the Secretary of Natural Resources from January 2018-September 27, 2021. He was the Chief Resilience Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before joining the Northam Administration, he served as Senior Policy Advisor to Democratic members of the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. Immediately prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Matt worked in the Virginia General Assembly as a legislative assistant to then-state Senator Ralph Northam. Originally from Lexington, Virginia, Matt holds master's degrees in public policy and marine science from the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Ann Jennings served as the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources from September 2021-January 2022. Previously, Ann was the Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources for the Chesapeake Bay under Secretary of Natural Resources Matt Strickler in the office of Governor Ralph Northam. Prior to that position, she was the Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative commission created to advise the General Assemblies of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia on matters of Bay-wide concern. Prior to the Commission, Ann served as the Virginia Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Ann's career also includes work as a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Originally from Virginia Beach, Ann received a bachelor's degree in biology from Virginia Tech and a master's degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas A and M University. Ann is a graduate of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute and the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program.

Katie Sallee was the Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of Natural Resources from March 2019/June 2021 to January 14, 2022. Prior to her appointment, Katie was a Field Organizer for the League of Conservation Voters and previously served as a legislative intern in the office of Delegate Betsy Carr.

Meryem Karad was the Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of Natural Resources from November 2020-November 2021. Meryem previously served under Governor Terry McAuliffe in this role.

Scope and Content

The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources records, 2017-2021, contain correspondence, documents, reports, and other materials pertaining to the work conducted during Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's administration. The materials were created or collected 2017-2021, (bulk 2018-2021) although some documents may pre-date this time period. Major topics include the following: sea level rise in coastal Virginia, flood risk, land conservation programs, Chesapeake Bay programs, Fort Monroe, the Watershed Implementation Program, and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

The records consist of 15 archival boxes and are divided into five series, reflecting how the materials were received upon transfer. Series I. Records of Matt Strickler; Series II. Records of Ann Jennings; Series III. Records of Ann Jennings and Katie Sallee; Series IV. Records of Meryem Karad; Series V. Constituent Correspondence.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series: