TreePeople, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit that has been bringing people together to grow a more sustainable Southern California for more than fifty years, is excited to announce the appointment of Casandra “Cassie” Rauser as its new Chief Executive Officer. Following a nationwide search led by Envision Consulting, Rauser was selected for her proven leadership, deep expertise in sustainability and commitment to community impact.
“I am thrilled we have finally found our next CEO. Cassie Rauser has it all: experience, expertise, and true authenticity. There is no limit to what TreePeople can achieve under her leadership,” said John D. Bunzel, Chair of the TreePeople Board of Directors.
Rauser says she is thrilled to join TreePeople as CEO and to lead this next chapter for such a vital organization: “TreePeople has spent more than 50 years showing what is possible when people come together to care for the environment and each other. I am excited to work alongside this extraordinary community to expand TreePeople’s impact, strengthen its partnerships and help shape a more equitable and climate-resilient Southern California.”
Dr. Cassie Rauser is a climate and sustainability strategist who works at the intersection of science, policy and community to advance equity-centered solutions. She is the Founder and Principal of MorphoStrategies, where she has led wildfire recovery, climate resilience and coalition-building initiatives across Los Angeles. Her work includes developing the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Climate Implementation Plan and coordinating Accelerate Resilience LA’s Fire Response Network. Dr. Rauser supported organizations such as Resilient Palisades and East LA Community Corporation to integrate climate-smart rebuilding, greening and resilience strategies into local communities. Previously, she was the inaugural Executive Director of UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, where she launched and scaled a first-of-its-kind initiative to transition Los Angeles into the most sustainable megacity by 2050. Dr. Rauser holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Irvine and serves on several boards and advisory councils focused on biodiversity, climate action, and sustainability leadership.
“As a proud Angeleno, I have long admired TreePeople’s incredible legacy of inspiring and mobilizing communities to care for people and nature. I am honored to step into this role at such a pivotal moment, when our city and region are facing profound challenges but also unprecedented opportunities. Together, with staff, board, and community, we can continue to build on TreePeople’s strong foundation and grow its impact for generations to come.” – Cassie Rauser
Rauser’s leadership marks an exciting new chapter for TreePeople as it continues its mission to inspire, engage, and unite Angelenos in building a climate-resilient future.
