Patty shares, “Caring about natural resources and conservation history runs in my blood so it is natural for me to enjoy volunteering with the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. Beyond that, it is really important work – for what could be more important than sharing the stories of our heroes in conservation so others may be more apt to say, ‘Yes, I can’ as they take their turn and rise to meet the challenges before them? The stories of Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame Inductees are like good medicine for the conservation soul – and these days, who doesn’t need an extra dose of inspiration?”
Patty has been President of the WCHF Foundation since 2019. She deeply believes in the mission. She was assistant to Dean Daniel Trainer (WCHF Inductee) in the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources when he worked with others to establish the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. As a graduate student, he asked her to give John Muir’s induction speech in 1985. She has over three decades of leadership experience in nonprofit administration and government and has taught university level coursework on related subjects including grant writing. Patty is an environmental educator and author working to prepare the next generation of environmental leaders. B.S. Biology, M.S. Natural Resource Management/EE, UW-Stevens Point.