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About MW PARC

Help us make a difference by joining our leadership team!

MW PARC is calling for nominations for new Advisory Board members and for an incoming Co-Chair. Please review the information below about the roles and responsibilities for these positions, and if you're interested in running and or want to learn more send us an email (parcmidwest@gmail.com)

We are accepting nominations during the month of August and will hold online elections in the second half of September 2024. Any member of MWPARC is eligible to vote.

Co-chairs

MW PARC is managed by two co-chair positions, each serving a two-year term. The co-chairs are responsible for:

  • organizing the annual meeting

  • coordinating content on the webpage

  • serving as voting members on National PARC’s Joint National Steering Committee (JNSC);

  • reporting regional activities and project progress to the JNSC

  • reporting National PARC activities and project progress to regional working group members

  • representing PARC at regional and local conferences and events

Please see the Co-Chair Roles and Responsibilities document for more details.

Current Co-Chairs:
Travis Kurtz
Travis Kurtz, M.Sc.

Senior Co-Chair of MW PARC

Comm. Sci. Coordinator @ John Ball Zoo

Michigan

E-mail

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Jen Y. Lamb, Ph.D.

Junior Co-Chair of MW PARC

Assoc. Professor @ St. Cloud State Uni.

Minnesota

Personal website

Advisory Board

Midwest PARC can have up to 12 advisory board members, plus a member for each MW PARC state chapter. Board members currently serve for a term of two years, starting in January. Advisory board members are expected to:

  • Attend monthly board meetings (web conference)

  • Provide advice and ideas about activities, meeting planning, and directions or projects for Co-chairs to consider

  • Attend the annual conference

  • Advocate for MW PARC and help connect the organization with additional partners

  • Recruit potential future advisory board members

 

Please see the Advisory Board Roles and Recommendations document for more details. 

Interested in joining the board, or in recommending someone to join the board?

Contact parcmidwest@gmail.com

Current Board Members:
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Joey Cannizzaro, M.Sc.

M.Sc. Student @ Uni. Wisconsin Milwaukee

Wisconsin (State chapter rep.)

Personal website

Gary Casper
Gary S. Casper, Ph.D.

President, Great Lakes Ecological Services, Slinger

Wisconsin (State chapter rep.)

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Michela Coury, M.Sc.

Adjunct Prof. @ Grand Valley State Uni.

Michigan

Instagram: @michiganbiologist

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Nicole Hafer-Lipstreu, M.Sc.

Environmental Specialist 2 (Biologist) @ Ohio Department of Transportation

Ohio (State chapter rep.)

Drew Davis
Drew Davis, Ph.D.

Associate Research Scientist @ University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Personal website

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Justin M. Elden

Curator of Herpetology & Aquatics @ Saint Louis Zoo

Missouri

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Andrew Kuhns, M.Sc.

Assoc. Scientist @ Illinois Natural History Survey, U. of Illinois

Illinois

Dexter Mardis

Biological Field Station Manager @ Wichita State University

Kansas

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Jen Moore
Jennifer Moore, Ph.D.

Assoc. Professor @ Grand Valley State Uni.

Michigan (State chapter rep.)

Personal website

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Nicole Palenske Ladner, Ph.D.

Assoc. Professor @ Central College

Iowa

Daren Riedle
J. Daren Riedle, Ph.D.

Wildlife Diversity Coordinator @ KS Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism

Kansas

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Shelby Timm

Wildlife Ecologist @ Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Missouri

Dreux Watermolen
Dreux Watermolen, B.A.

Chief of Analysis Services @ WI Dept. of Natural Resources

Wisconsin

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Melissa Youngquist, Ph.D.

Research Biologist @ Shedd Aquarium

Illinois

Personal website

State Chapters

In the Midwest region, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin have PARC state chapters.

Interested in starting a chapter in your home-state in the Midwest region? Contact MW PARC for more information.

Boreal chorus frog by M. Youngquist.
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