Former USFWS Biologist Mamie Parker to Keynote DIRE Dialog Seminar
The NC State College of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that Mamie Parker, former assistant director of fisheries and habitat conservation for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will keynote a DIRE Dialog seminar on November 30.
Parker, who has extensive experience as a biologist and senior executive with both federal agencies and private industry, will discuss the contributions of women and people of color in natural resources and related fields.
During her nearly 30-year career with the USFWS, Parker served as the first African American to lead a regional office and eventually rose to the position of assistant director of fisheries and habitat conservation.
Parker retired from the USFWS in 2007. She has since worked as an executive leadership coach, public speaker and environmental consultant with M.A. Parker & Associates and EcoLogix Group, Inc.
Throughout her career, Parker has worked to advance diversity and inclusion in STEM careers, specifically those related to conservation and fisheries. She was awarded the Emmeline Moore Prize from the American Fisheries Society in 2016 for these efforts.
Stacy Nelson, interim associate dean for diversity and inclusion at the College of Natural Resources, described Parker as “a role model and leader who’s developed a national reputation for being a trendsetter.”
He added, “Mamie has been a life-long champion for not just these disciplines, but for equitable representation for our next generation of decision-makers within these disciplines.”
The upcoming seminar with Parker will begin at 12 p.m. and is open to all faculty, staff and students within the college. The seminar will feature a 30-minute speaker presentation, followed by a discussion with participants.
About the DIRE Dialog Series
Funded by the Duke Energy Foundation and hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at NC State’s College of Natural Resources, the DIRE (Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity) series aims to address the discrimination and systemic inequalities faced by marginalized individuals in fields related to natural resources. Each discussion is led by a local or national expert on diversity, inclusion and belonging in subject areas related to natural resources.
