As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the
West Virginia University
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
will welcome to campus two inspirational and distinguished leaders in the field of
natural resources as guest speakers.
Toddi Steelman, wildfire expert and Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School of the
Environment at Duke University, and Mamie Parker, former assistant director of
fisheries and habitat conservation for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will
give presentations on March 26 and 27, respectively.
As this year’s Davis-Michael Distinguished Lecturer, Steelman will present “A Change
in Climate for Climate Change” at 11 a.m. on Tues., March 26, in G06 Agricultural
Sciences Building.
Her presentation will be the keynote address for the College’s annual Graduate Student
Research and Creative Scholarship Day scheduled for 8:15 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Agricultural
Sciences Building.
Although best known as a wildfire expert, Steelman is well-recognized nationally
and internationally for her work in environmental and natural resource policy.
Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Canadian Tri
Agencies as well as a variety of federal and state agencies.
The author of four books, Steelman has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals,
as well as opinion and editorial pieces in Nature, the Globe and Mail and the Los
Angeles Times.
Prior to joining Duke University in 2018, she served five years as the first permanent
executive director for the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University
of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. She also spent 11 years as a faculty member
in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State
University, and four years in the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University
of Colorado at Denver.
She holds a Ph.D. from Duke University, a master’s in public affairs from Princeton
University and a bachelor’s in political science and international studies from
WVU.
The following day (March 27), Mamie Parker will present “Passion, Inspiration and
Excellence” at 6:30 p.m. in the lower lobby of Percival Hall.
During a career spanning more than 30 years with the federal government, Parker spent
20 of those years in the field before being named special assistant to the director
of the Service. She was later promoted to regional director of 13 northeastern
states, the first African American to hold the position in the 135-year history
of the agency.
Parker has extensive experience in environmental impact analysis, fish culture and
health, and invasive species and habitat restoration.
Currently, she is the principal of Ma Parker and Associates, a public speaking, facilitation
and executive coaching business in Washington, D.C.
She holds degrees in biology and ecology and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas
and the University of Wisconsin. She also received executive leadership training
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Parker’s presentation is sponsored by the Terry L. Sharik Natural Resources Diversity
Fund.
Both seminars are free and open to the public.