DURHAM, N.C. -- The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has named Toddi Steelman, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at 91社区福利, to its board of directors. She will serve a three-year term.

As one of the world鈥檚 most respected conservation organizations, works with local partners in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive by developing innovative, science-based conservation strategies that protect communities, wildlife and the places in which they live.

As one of its new board members, Steelman will collaborate with other members of WWF鈥檚 leadership team to provide critical advice and counsel to help the global nonprofit achieve its goals across six broad and interconnected focal areas: climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans and wildlife.

鈥淗ow lucky are we? Dean Steelman brings the rigor of one of the world鈥檚 finest schools of the environment, with the wisdom of experience and the soul of someone rooted in everyday places,鈥 said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of WWF. 鈥淚鈥檒l count on her insights and engagement in sustaining the world's most important landscapes and seascapes and reducing the footprint of our economy and our lives.鈥

Steelman has served as Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School since 2018 and was recently reappointed to her second five-year term through June 30, 2028.

In addition to providing leadership for the school鈥攚hich has seen strategic growth in its academic, research, and outreach enterprises during her tenure, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic鈥攕he has been a leading architect of the , which was launched last September and unites the university鈥檚 education, research, operations, and public service missions to address the climate crisis.

On the research front, Steelman is internationally recognized for her expertise in environmental and resource policy and highly cited for her studies on community response to wildfire and how communities and agencies can interact for more effective wildfire management on large, interjurisdictionally complex blazes. She is immediate past president of the International Association of Wildland Fire.

鈥淚 am honored and excited to serve on the board of an organization I have respected my entire career,鈥 Steelman said. 鈥淲WF and the Nicholas School share a focus on finding solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing environmental and social problems, as well as a rich history of working together to develop new tools, practices and policies that advance conservation and sustainable development for the good of people and the planet alike. I can鈥檛 wait to help build on that history.鈥

 

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