WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responsibility.org announced today that traffic safety advocate and drunk driving crash survivor, Tess Rowland, has joined its National Advisory Board. As the newest member of this distinguished group of professionals, Ms. Rowland will leverage her personal experience, passion, and media savvy to help amplify and execute Responsibility.org’s mission to combat underage drinking, eliminate drunk and impaired driving, and empower adults of legal drinking age who choose to drink to do so responsibly.
“Tess Rowland is a brave and resilient individual who could have decided to recover from her traumatic injuries in silence,” said Chris Swonger, President and CEO of Responsibility.org and DISCUS. “Instead, she has chosen to raise her voice and use her platform to increase the awareness about the dangers of drunk and impaired driving. It is this fearlessness that we are excited to see and learn from to keep our missions moving forward, make our roads safer, and prevent crashes, injuries and precious lives from being lost.”
Previously, Ms. Rowland served as an Emmy-Nominated TV Journalist in Panama City Beach, FL. During a daily commute in 2021, she was the victim of a crash involving a wrong-way drunk driver and was severely injured, sparking her unwavering dedication to traffic safety advocacy. Still in her recovery journey, Ms. Rowland collaborated with the Bay County, FL Sheriff’s Office to establish the first-ever Regional DUI Task Force and later held the position of the National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). In these roles, she spearheaded initiatives for stricter laws and heightened awareness surrounding impaired driving.
Currently, Ms. Rowland serves as the Community Traffic Safety Liaison for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office based in Houston, TX, where she develops innovative traffic safety programming that integrates awareness, education, and data-driven approaches to address the root causes of traffic fatalities in the community. She also recently published her first children’s book, Astro’s Adventures Exploring Road Safety, which educates youth about road safety and making safe choices.
“Responsibility.org is an impactful organization with missions and values that align with my personal passion for traffic safety and dedication to empowering individuals to make informed decisions. I’m honored to join as a National Advisory Board member and help make a difference on such important issues,” said Ms. Rowland. “I had to share the road with a drunk driver—and am fortunate to be here to share my story in the hopes that lives will be saved and that conversations and actions take place to increase safety for all.”
“We enthusiastically welcome Ms. Rowland to the National Advisory Board. We are inspired by her story and her work, and look forward to her contributions to our programs, campaigns, and initiatives,” said Lisa Keegan, Chair of the Responsibility.org National Advisory Board.
In her appointment, Ms. Rowland will join six other National Advisory Board members comprised of education, traffic safety, and medical professionals, a former Attorney General, and other prominent representatives in mission-related fields. To view the full Responsibility.org National Advisory Board, click here.
About Responsibility.org
Responsibility.org is a national not-for-profit that aims to eliminate drunk driving and work with others to end all impaired driving, eliminate underage drinking, and empower adults to make a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices. Responsibility.org is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi USA, Inc.; Brown-Forman; Campari Group; Constellation Brands; DIAGEO; Edrington, Hotaling & Co.; Mast-Jägermeister US, Inc.; Moët Hennessy USA; Ole Smoky, LLC; Pernod Ricard USA; Suntory Global Spirits; and William Grant & Sons. For more than 30 years, Responsibility.org has transformed countless lives through programs that bring individuals, families, and communities together to inspire a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices. To learn more, please visit www.Responsibility.org.
