WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wildlife Federation announced that renowned ecologist Diane Pataki will serve as its next chief scientist and vice president for science. Pataki will serve on the organization’s executive leadership team and will oversee the Federation’s national conservation science team, provide scientific leadership and coordination across the organization, and help ensure the organization stays abreast of new scientific findings. 

“Diane has long been one of America’s leading ecology and climate experts, having produced a remarkable body of research throughout her career,” said Mustafa Santiago Ali, executive vice president of the National Wildlife Federation. “Alongside her scientific background, she’s also shown incredible success as communicator and convenor of groups committed to solving our nation’s climate and biodiversity crises. Her unique perspective will be instrumental to the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to protect wildlife, people and public lands for future generations.”

“With America’s wildlife facing an array of evolving challenges, it’s never been more important to ensure our solutions reflect the latest advances in conservation science,” Pataki said. “I’m deeply excited to bring my voice to the table, and to join the National Wildlife Federation’s talented staff of advocates and environmentalists committed to making our conservation goals a reality.”

Pataki brings over three decades of scientific experience to the role, having led programs at several universities that have produced over 150 publications and raised more than $40 million. She currently serves as sustainability professor at Arizona State University, and will remain a faculty member while working for the National Wildlife Federation. She also founded the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, a public-private collaboration focused on climate resilience in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. Among her many accolades, Pataki is a Fulbright Global Scholar, an elected fellow of three scientific societies and has served on federal advisory committees for the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation. She holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in ecology from Duke University.