SMEA Alum Bobbak Talebi is currently a senior coastal planner for the Washington State Department of Ecology. He and his wife Bridget Talebi are two of five UW alumni recently profiled for following their passion to make our planet’s environment healthier, more just and more resilient. As stated in Bobbak’s profile “With a love of the outdoors and a natural inclination toward public service, Talebi was drawn to environmental policy.”

Bobbak’s current role includes helping protect more than 3,000 miles of shoreline through the State Coastal Zone Management Program. He also works closely with community organizations and federal, tribal and local governments to tackle complex issues like shoreline erosion, sea level rise and other impacts of climate change.

Read more about Bobbak, Bridget and several other UW alumni who are pursuing diverse career paths in preserving and improving the environment.