Southern Environmental Law Center founder to retire

Published July 19, 2018 by Veronica Garabelli

The founder and executive director of the Charlottesville-based Southern Environmental Law Center, Rick Middleton, will retire at the end of March 2019.

He will be succeeded by the organization’s longtime deputy director and director of regional programs, Jeff Gleason.

Started in a two-office suite on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall in 1986, SELC now has nine offices in six states employing 80 attorneys and a total staff of 140 employees.

Jeff Gleason joined SELC in 1991 to start and lead SELC's Clean Air and Energy Program.

“I am so honored by this opportunity, Gleason said in a statement. “There is no stepping into Rick Middleton's shoes. But I've got SELC in my bones, too, and it's an exciting time to lead an organization that is needed more than ever.”