Executive Director

Email: nicole.sunstrum@gcpdtexas.com

Nicole Sunstrum was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to serve as the first Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Protection District. She was subsequently approved unanimously by the District’s Board of Directors.

Sunstrum recently served as the Legislative Director to State Senator Larry Taylor as lead staff on policy issues relating to water, natural resources, economic development, disaster, and infrastructure. She has extensive experience working in various roles in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives over the past 15 years. Since 2013, she has been instrumental in efforts to bring a coastal barrier to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Sunstrum holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in Government and a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University with a focus on Urban and Environmental Planning.

She is also a former Commissioner of the Austin Urban Renewal Agency, the past Vice President the Texas Water Foundation Young Professionals Board, and mentor in the University of Texas Exes Professional Development Program.