Jennifer Rokala stepping down after 11 years; Aaron Weiss to become executive director
DENVER—After 11 impactful years leading the team at the Center for Western Priorities, Executive Director Jennifer Rokala is starting a new chapter. Starting on May 1, 2026, she is handing the reins to CWP’s deputy director, Aaron Weiss.
“From the Monuments to America tour, to our Winning the West campaign, to the day-to-day work of driving a positive conservation narrative, I have witnessed the importance of our nation’s public lands to communities across the Western United States,” said Rokala. “Regardless of political party, we know that public lands are central to our identity in the West, and not something we can take for granted. It has been an honor steering this talented team of professionals to develop new and creative ways to communicate the value of our shared public lands for current and future generations.”
Weiss emphasized the importance of CWP’s mission to serve as a “war room” for Western public lands.
“Standing up for public lands is more urgent than ever. From attacks on federal workers to bald-faced attempts to sell off and privatize our shared landscapes and resources, we are holding the line against the Trump administration’s attempts to take away what belongs to all Americans,” said Weiss. “The good news is we know that Western voters are with us now more than ever. It’s a privilege to lead the CWP team as we face some of the toughest challenges we have ever seen to protect our nation’s public lands.”
About the Center for Western Priorities
Founded in 2012, the Center for Western Priorities is a nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization based in Denver, Colorado. CWP serves as a source of accurate information, promotes responsible policies and practices, and ensures accountability at all levels to protect land, water, and communities in the American West. CWP is a project of Resources Legacy Fund.
About Aaron Weiss
Aaron Weiss has spent more than two decades in journalism and conservation communications. He began his career as a news producer and manager, spending 14 years leading teams at television stations across the country before joining CWP in 2015. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Aaron grew up exploring the Sonoran Desert and has spent the last decade bringing that same sense of place to CWP’s work defending Western public lands. As deputy director, he has helped transform CWP into one of the most influential conservation organizations in the West, leading government accountability campaigns, pioneering the organization’s use of data journalism, and creating CWP’s podcast, The Landscape.
Aaron Weiss
Jennifer Rokala