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Rebecca Esselman joined the Michigan Environmental Council Board of Directors in 2025. Policy advocacy is a critical pillar of work essential to protecting Michigan’s water resources, and Rebecca adds capacity on water-related issues and nonprofit management. She is a big fan of the Environmental Council’s coalition building and its respectable voice at the Michigan Capitol as well.
Esselman is the executive director of Huron River Watershed Council in southeast Michigan, the state’s oldest organization committed to river protection. Through a coalition of residents, businesses and local governments, she and her staff have protected and restored their nonprofit’s namesake watershed and have created more healthy and vibrant communities.
Prior, Esselman served as watershed planner for Huron River Watershed Council. She also worked in freshwater conservation and planning, and knowledge management at The Nature Conservancy and as a research associate for the University of Michigan.
Rounding out Esselman’s experiences are a bachelor’s degree in botany from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in conservation ecology from The University of Georgia.
Her passion centers on climate change, ecosystem protection and equity focused engagement. For fun, the Dexter resident enjoys spending time with her three children, sharing space with family and friends, swimming in Michigan’s many lakes and seeing live music.