The Illinois Audubon Society announces the addition of Douglas Stotz, (pictured on the left) a senior conservation ecologist at Chicago’s Field Museum, and Bob Szafoni, (pictured below, right) a 30-year veteran of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to its Board of Directors. The appointments are effective immediately.
“Doug and Bob bring strong conservation and environmental strengths to our board,” commented Jim Herkert, Executive Director. “As we begin our 120th year of conservation work within the state, the Illinois Audubon Society owes much of its success and longevity to the dedication of an exceptional group of board members who have served the organization over the years. Doug and Bob will help continue that tradition with ecological and land management experience that will provide valuable contributions in advancing the work of the Society.”
Stotz, from Westchester, is active in programs to preserve biological diversity and threatened habitats through his work at the Field Museum. Locally, he focuses his attention on studying bird migration and the effects of climate change on bird populations in Chicago. Internationally, he has a long history of research and exploration in South America. As part of the Field Museum’s tropical Rapid Biological Inventory teams, he has participated in more than 25 inventories in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Cuba as well as one in China. He is also a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Checklist Committee for both North and South America, responsible for the taxonomy and English names of the birds of the Americas. He received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago.
Szafoni, who lives in Sadorus, recently retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where he last served as the Natural Areas Stewardship Project Manager. He has also worked for the Illinois Natural History Survey and currently is an ecological contractor as well as a volunteer for land trusts and environmental organizations statewide. He received BS and MS degrees from the University of Illinois.
I know Bob and have been in the field and in meetings with him where he helped to
start of our East Central Illinois Master Naturalists. Bob is one my favorite Grand Prairie Friends!
Am not sure I know Doug personally. Do love the Chicago Museum of Natural History.
The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, and GPF have given me a terrific viewpoint on which to base
my life upon.
Cheers!
Illinois Audubon Society is upping its game with the addition of these two new members to the Board! Congratulations!
Congratulations to my old co-worker Bob and to Dr. Stotz. Both will be fine additions to the board.
Much continued success to you both!!
As a long time member of the Field Museum, I have no doubt that both of these men will bring great experience to the IAS and we will all be better for it. Congatulations and good luck in your new positions.