Dix Park Conservancy Names Conservation Leader Bill Ross as Board Chair
Former Secretary of the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources has served on DPC board since 2017
(Raleigh, NC) - April 30, 2024 - Dix Park Conservancy has named Bill Ross as the nonprofit’s Board of Directors chair, effective April 2024. He follows Orage Quarles, who has led the board since 2021.
Ross has served as the board’s Vice Chair since 2021.
“It’s a joy and a privilege to have the opportunity to work on this unique park with its stunning natural beauty and rich, compelling history. There is no place in America like it. And I would venture to say there may be no place that has welcomed so much community input. The transformational power of Dix Park, for the city, the region and the state, is staggering, and we must continue to step up to the challenge of making it all it can be. I am grateful to the leaders who’ve given the park so much momentum to this point and look forward to working with the conservancy board, the City of Raleigh, our generous donors and the entire community.”
Prior to joining the DPC board, Ross led the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources as the agency's secretary from 2001-2009. In that period, the agency played a principal role as the state expanded the size of the state park system; enacted the NC Clean Smokestacks Act, landmark state legislation that mandated the reduction of harmful emissions from the state’s coal-fired power plants by more than 70%; and built the Nature Research Center, an innovative new wing for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
An attorney, Ross currently is of counsel at the law firm of Brooks Pierce at its Raleigh office. He specializes in initiatives related to environmental law, natural resources, sustainability, and resilience. He has served as chair of the NC Parks and Recreation Authority, the National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Raleigh’s Greenway Commission.
Janet Cowell, Dix Park Conservancy President and Chief Executive Officer, and the rest of the Dix Park Conservancy team, look forward to Bill’s continued leadership. Cowell says, “Bill embodies the essence of stewardship and has a deep commitment to the community and legacy of Dix Park. His leadership will undoubtedly elevate our mission, ensuring that Dix Park flourishes as a cherished space for all to enjoy.”
2024 started strong for Dorothea Dix Park after hosting another successful Dreamville Festival, welcoming more than 100,000 attendees over the two-day music fest. The park is continuing the momentum with a sparkling lineup of upcoming events, including the unveiling of the renovated Stone Houses, the 4th Inter-Tribal Pow Wow, the installation of the Sunflower Towers and preparation for the opening of Gipson Play Plaza in 2025.
A North Carolina native, Ross grew up in Raleigh and is a graduate of Davidson College, in Davidson, NC, and of the University of Virginia School of Law, in Charlottesville, VA. He and his wife Susan Gravely reside in Chapel Hill, NC.
“I want to thank Bill for his commitment to the Dix Park Conservancy,” Quarles said. “I am confident that he will lead with grace and integrity and bring his own special brand of energy to the role.”
About Dix Park Conservancy
Dix Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the City in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic and community engagement partner, and ensure the creation and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, health, and celebration that will enrich our quality of life in North Carolina.