Auburn University will host a virtual talk with Nick Wiley COO of Ducks Unlimited, the largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization in North America, on Oct. 7 in celebration of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ 75th Anniversary.
Wiley is the sixth speaker in the virtual “7 for 75 Speaker Series” as part of the school’s yearlong celebration, which began in the spring of 2021. In addition to his role as COO of Ducks Unlimited, or DU, Wiley has served in key leadership positions within several conservation organizations.
Before joining DU in 2017, he was executive director of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and former president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He is also the past chair of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports.
Wiley received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University in 1983 and a master’s degree in wildlife management from Auburn University in 1986. He serves on the Georgia Southern College of Science and Mathematics Advisory Board and School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Advisory Council.
Wiley is a National Conservation Leadership Institute Fellow, a member of the Boone and Crockett Club and serves on the board of directors for The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports.
“Nick has been a powerful force for wildlife conservation during his 35-year career. In his current role at DU, he has a unique perspective on the challenges we’ll face going forward to protect and conserve waterfowl habitat across North America,” said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.
“We are eager to hear Nick’s insights and to learn about DU’s vision for the conservation and restoration of landscapes that are most critical to the survival of waterfowl species and the management implications of those efforts for wildlife professionals.”
The talk is open to the public via Zoom from 2-3 p.m. CT at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/87052882997 and will be live-streamed via the school’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ausfws/live/.
The “7 for 75 Speaker Series” features distinguished alumni and industry leaders representing an array of forestry, wildlife and natural resource fields and enterprises who will cover a wide range of topics, from land management to current and future technology to stakeholder engagement.
For more information about upcoming events in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University, visit https://cfwe.auburn.edu/sfws-75th-anniversary/.
(Written by Jamie Anderson)