Molly Diggins, who has led the N.C. Chapter of the Sierra Club as its original and only state director for 22 years, will retire from that position as of Nov. 8. Dustin Chicurel-Bayard will serve as the organization’s interim director during the search for a permanent successor.
Diggins (at left in photograph), a native of New York state, moved to North Carolina in 1980. After holding several volunteer leadership positions in the organization throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Diggins became the first full-time staff person for the N.C. Chapter in 1997. She has been an instrumental figure in advancing environmental issues during her tenure.
“North Carolinians have benefitted from all Molly has done over the past decades to advocate for new protections for our state’s air, water, and natural places, and to defend safeguards already in place,” said Ken Brame, the chapter’s executive committee chair. “When we think about those who affect policies that improve people’s lives, we often think of politicians and elected officials. However, Molly Diggins is an example of a private citizen whose work has spanned and influenced multiple General Assemblies and administrations. We appreciate all that she has done for our organization and the people of North Carolina. Her retirement is certainly well earned.”
Dustin Chicurel-Bayard rejoined the staff of the N.C. Chapter of the Sierra Club in the month leading up to Diggins’ retirement. He was the organization’s communications director from 2011 to 2016. More recently, he served as the communications director for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice from 2016 to July 2019.