Gertrude M. "Trudy" Coxe (born 1948) is an American environmental activist and historic preservationist who is the current CEO of the

Preservation Society of Newport County The Preservation Society of Newport County is a private, non-profit organization based in Newport, Rhode Island. It is Rhode Island's largest and most-visited cultural organization. The organization protects the architectural heritage of Newpor ...

and the former Secretary of Environmental Affairs in the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

Biography

Coxe was born in 1948. She graduated from the

Wheeler School Wheeler School is a private school located on the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The school serves students from the preschool level through twelfth-grade. History Early history In 1889, an art school for girls was establ ...

in 1967. As an employee of Save the Bay, Coxe helped organize the first annual Save the Bay swim in 1977, later serving as executive director of Save the Bay from 1979 to 1990. She ran an unsuccessful campaign as a Republican for Congress against Jack Reed in 1990. From 1993 to 1998 she served as Massachusetts' Secretary of Environmental Affairs under Governor Weld and Governor Cellucci. After leaving this position, she became C.E.O. of the Preservation Society of Newport County. Coxe currently serves on various non-profit boards, including: "National Recreation and Park Association, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Grow Smart Rhode Island, the

Rhode Island Commodore Rhode Island Commodore, is Rhode Island's highest honor, and an honorary title bestowed upon individuals by approval of the Governor of Rhode Island. It is not a military rank, requires no duties, and carries with it no pay or other compensation. ...

s, the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting, the Wheeler School, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, Child and Family Services and the Attractions Council of Newport County." Coxe is the recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Rhode Island, the

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Mass Maritime) is a public university in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, focused on maritime-related fields. It was established in 1891 and is the second oldest state maritime academy in the United States. Originally ...

, and Roger Williams University.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coxe, Trudy Massachusetts Secretaries of Environmental Affairs American environmentalists American women environmentalists American women chief executives Rhode Island Republicans Living people 1949 births American nonprofit chief executives Massachusetts Republicans 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians 21st-century American women