The Dungeness River Nature Center’s board of directors announced on June 2 that the center’s executive director, Frank Lowenstein, is no longer with the Sequim facility.
Board President Annette Hanson said in an interview that the agency does not disclose personnel matters and that they wanted to respect Lowenstein’s privacy.
She said it is not a legal matter.
“We cannot share specific details,” Hanson said.
“We’re focusing on a smooth transition and moving ahead with our mission. In the meantime, we have a dedicated board of directors that will be supporting the staff.”
Lowenstein, who wrote a column in recent months for the Gazette, told the newspaper he was dismissed from the position.
On Monday, as the Sequim Gazette prepared to go to press, he provided this statement:
“The River Center is a beloved local institution. I’m really proud to have been able to lead it since last fall. We’ve accomplished a great deal, and I’m sure the center will continue to accomplish a great deal as it moves forward.”
Lowenstein was hired in September 2024 to replace long-time director Powell Jones, who left to take another job with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, which owns the Dungeness River Nature Center’s property at 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.
Board member Annette Nesse served as interim director between Jones’ departure and Lowenstein’s hiring.
In a letter to center supporters, Hanson thanked Lowenstein and wished him the best in his future endeavors.
She wrote that the board of directors is “actively seeking a new Executive Director and will be making further announcements about the search process in the near future.”
“We are confident in our ability to navigate this transition successfully and continue to deliver on our mission,” Hanson said.
The position was listed on June 4 on the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s website jamestowntribe.org/careers/.
In an interview, she said Lowenstein’s departure was known for about a week internally before releasing the news to the public.
Board members considered an interim director, similar to Nesse, but Hanson said they’re hoping to fast track the application process.
“It will have no impact on our programs,” she said.
Hanson said they didn’t change much in the job description and that the position’s main focus will be directing staff, the board, volunteers, and fundraising.
The center is also hiring an education coordinator, and Hanson said they hope to have a new hire in place by July.
According to a press release about Lowenstein’s hiring, he most recently led the climate equity and justice program Solar Helping Ignite Neighborhood Economies (or SHINE) for the international nonprofit Rare.
He also served as chief operating officer for New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF), as a staff scientist for the Lake Champlain Committee and The Nature Conservancy for more than 20 years.
For more information about the Dungeness River Nature Center, visit dungenessrivercenter.org/.
