Deborah Markowitz
Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

ANR Secretary Deb Markowitz

Deborah Markowitz is the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the state agency with primary responsibility for protecting Vermont's environment, natural resources and wildlife and for maintaining Vermont's forests and state parks. Markowitz was named to that position by Governor Peter Shumlin in January 2011.

Secretary Markowitz previously served as Vermont's Secretary of State from 1999 until 2011. Markowitz has a distinguished record of achievement and is widely recognized for enhancing customer service at the Secretary of State's office and for eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy to make it easier to start and expand businesses in Vermont. During her tenure, Secretary Markowitz made it a priority to improve Vermont's democracy and promote good citizenship. Markowitz is also a champion of open government. She stood up to efforts to weaken Vermont's open government laws and was instrumental in ensuring that important records of government are preserved by the state.

As Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, Markowitz will be taking a proactive role in shaping the environmental agenda of the state. She believes that, given the challenge of climate change, Vermont must find new and creative approaches to care for its natural resources, to build strong communities, and to support its working landscape for a sustainable future.

A graduate of the University of Vermont (B.A., 1983), Markowitz received her Juris Doctorate degree from the Georgetown University Law Center (magna cum laude,1987). Markowitz served as a law clerk with Justice Louis Peck of the Vermont Supreme Court (1987 - 1988) and practiced law with Langrock, Sperry, Parker and Wool (1988 - 1990). She served as the founding director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Municipal Law Center (1990 - 1997), where she published numerous handbooks and academic papers on local government law and lectured locally and nationally on issues related to municipal law and on ethics in government. Markowitz is the author of the Vermont Municipal Guide to Land Use Regulation (1997) and Vermont Municipal Environmental Handbook (1995).

Markowitz has served on numerous state and national boards and commissions including the Vermont Girl Scout Council, the Central Vermont Community Action Agency, and the Vermont Women's Business Center Advisory Board. She has also been recognized nationally for her leadership by being awarded an Aspen-Rodel fellowship.

Secretary Markowitz and her husband Paul live in Montpelier with their three children where they spend their free time hiking, paddling, gardening and cross-country skiing.