2025 TWS Elections

The ballot for The Wildlife Society’s 2025 elections includes nominees for the positions of vice president and representatives for the North Central, Northwest and Western Sections.

Electronic ballots will be sent by June 1 to all members with an email address. Members without an email address will receive a paper ballot in the mail. Voting will close June 30. Mailed paper ballots must be postmarked on or before June 30. In accordance with TWS’ Bylaws, newly elected council members are scheduled to be installed at the next regular meeting of Council during the 32^nd Annual Conference, from Oct. 5-9 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The candidates’ statements expressing their vision for The Wildlife Society and their interest in running for this council position are below.

Vice President

Mike Conner

My introduction to The Wildlife Society occurred when I was a senior at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Now, nearly three decades later, I remain actively involved, having benefited both professionally and personally from my engagement with TWS. My long-term involvement, including service as a Representative to Council, has prepared me for the role of Vice President, and I have two primary reasons for running. First, I look forward to working collaboratively with Council and TWS membership as we navigate the obstacles and opportunities that are sure to arise over the next few years. I strive to understand the perspectives of others, and I believe this trait and my prior experiences on Council will be an asset in this role. Second, I am keenly interested in working with Council and staff to improve membership recruitment and retention. Strengthening TWS in this area will have a long-lasting impact.

We currently have approximately 11,000 members, a number that has remained relatively flat in recent years. During my tenure on TWS Council, I found that about half of chapter members were not members of TWS. Conversations with attendees at chapter meetings revealed two common reasons for this gap. Some were unaware of the distinction between TWS and TWS chapters, assuming that being a member of a state or student chapter meant they were also members of TWS. This issue can be addressed through regular and purposeful communication at chapter meetings to clarify TWS structure. Others did not perceive the benefits of membership to justify the cost. I want to better understand this perspective so TWS can enhance its value and relevance at all levels of the organization.

I would like to explore strategies to showcase the value of TWS membership to the non-member wildlife professionals within TWS chapters. Specifically, I will encourage communication between TWS and its chapters to identify how TWS can better support activities that foster interactions among wildlife professionals from multiple yet geographically similar chapters, such as adjoining state chapters or within a TWS section. This approach would broaden individual member networks while increasing the relevance and value of TWS at more local scales.

My vision for TWS is directly related to my motivations for running for Vice President. I want TWS to be considered an essential professional resource for all wildlife professionals. A recent survey of TWS members (Urbanek et al. 2018, WSB 42:4-12) suggested that members are less active in TWS and consider TWS less important to their careers than reflected in the 1991 survey. This concerns me. Wildlife professionals enter the field with core professional values that guide their career paths. It is important to identify the common threads that unite all wildlife professionals and nurture them within TWS. I believe this effort would enhance TWS’s relevance for all wildlife professionals, regardless of their educational background or career stage.

Timothy (Tim) M. Green

TWS provides great value to its members, but you get so much more from volunteering or running for office.  Being an active participant, to me, means giving my time and talent for the betterment of the organization.  I’ve held many positions within the organization at the Chapter Level and Section Level.  I was instrumental in forming the Renewable Energy Working Group.  So, in the continued spirit of volunteerism and serving our membership, I am submitting my name for consideration for Vice-President of TWS. 

In the 30 years I’ve been involved with TWS I’ve seen significant changes that included both increases and decreases in our membership, a truly phenomenal effort by TWS members and leadership for inclusiveness and equity within our membership, and fund-raising efforts that help to secure our fiscal soundness and implement new programs.  Through the recent efforts of Council, we have a strategic plan that is being implemented.  The three strategic goals of Building Community, Supporting Professionals, and Exercising External Influence are critical for TWS.   It is through community that we build and maintain our identity and support each other’s efforts; it allows us to speak as one.  As community we must support each other as Professionals and support the profession.  It is important that we support our profession as the impacts to wildlife and ecosystems only get greater as we face the major challenges of climate change.  As the challenges of climate change manifest, we must be effective in exercising our influence at the local, state, federal levels, and where appropriate at the international level.  If elected to serve I want to see TWS continue to grow membership and influence decisions that benefit wildlife while supporting our members’ efforts.  We’ve come a long way and need to be continually improving.  We need strong leaders at all levels of our organization to implement our strategic plan.  This means encouraging members to take on leadership positions and providing the support and training necessary to be an effective leader at whatever level one decides to serve.  Effective leadership development and training would be a key focus for my tenure if elected.

North Central Section

Jason Riddle                                                                          

We moved to the North Central Section about 16 years ago.  I am continually amazed at the work ethic, passion, and professionalism of Wildlifers in our Section.  I’ve witnessed these qualities in our students as the Faculty Advisor to the Student Chapter at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, in our members at the state-level as President of The Wisconsin Chapter, and across our entire Region as President and Section Representative of the North Central Section.

I’ve served on the North Central Section Executive Board for approximately 6 years (3 years in the executive succession of President-Elect, President, and Past President, and ~2.5 years as Section Representative).  I believe we’ve been incredibly productive and effective as a Board.  We’ve provided online services (such as webinars) to our members, allocated over 70 travel grants to professional meetings, piloted free student membership programs to students in our Section regardless of their membership status in other TWS units, and invested funds wisely.  Since being elected as Section Representative, I’ve served on the following Council committees: Awards, Fellows, Diversity, Position Statements, and Policy.  I’m now the Chair of the Policy Committee.  I also was able to participate in the Strategic Planning Process.  I LOVE THIS WORK!  I believe our Section has made positive contributions to TWS as a whole and our Section is one of the most active in bringing action items and recommendations to Council.  I would be honored to be able to serve you in a second term in this position. 

Tyler M. Harms

TWS has always felt like a large, extended family—a network of colleagues, mentors, and friends who share a passion for wildlife conservation. Through TWS, I have connected with professionals from across the nation, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences that have enriched my own journey. These relationships have provided not only professional collaboration but also a strong sense of community, where support and shared knowledge drive us all forward. I have been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors within TWS who have shaped my career and strengthened my commitment to applied science and conservation. Their guidance helped mold me into the wildlife professional I am today, instilling in me a deeper appreciation for the role of mentorship in our field. Now, I strive to pay that forward, mentoring students and early-career professionals. I truly value the support and sense of belonging that TWS fosters for all wildlifers. TWS fosters lifelong friendships and a shared dedication to science-based wildlife management. Whether at conferences, in the field, or through collaborations, the bonds formed within this society reinforce that we are all working toward a common goal. The Wildlife Society is more than an organization—it’s a community that continuously inspires, challenges, and supports one another, making our collective impact on conservation even greater. It’s my goal to make sure that our community, our family, continues to thrive and that all feel welcome and valued.

Northwest Section

Barbara Hill                                                                                                                          

When considering Section Representative to Council and committing to this critical position – I thought about my years of involvement with TWS and seeing first hand at the state, regional and national levels just how significant TWS advocacy and involvement has been for wildlife conservation, professionals and programs. Of particular importance for me is the NW Section and its States that are often at the crux or in leadership roles for wildlife conservation issues. 

Just as noteworthy I want to support the career development and professional development opportunities TWS provides to a wide array of university, early and mid-career biologists. Thereby TWS helps to ensure the future of our profession, biologists and wildlife conservation. 

I also personally want to continue to “give back” to the organization that has enhanced and broadened my experiences throughout my professional life. TWS was as important to my career development and contacts as my federal agency professional career. I hope many members take advantage of the unique opportunities TWS provides.

The Section Representative on Council is a critical position for guiding and furthering TWS program and initiatives. Wildlife conservation and programs and biologist career opportunities and positions are facing challenge and change. However TWS, staff and its members have proven we are able to deal with  these demands and succeed. My considerable and diverse TWS experiences have well prepared me for TWS Council. I would like to be in an active and instrumental role in meeting these challenges and future success.  

Chad Bishop 

I am motivated to run for the Northwest Section Representative to TWS Council as a way to give back to the Society that has been instrumental in my professional development as a student and professional.  I believe I am now in a position where I can effectively represent TWS members across the Northwest Section as a member on Council, having accumulated leadership experience through service on the Executive Boards of both Montana and Colorado Chapters of TWS and through service on various TWS committees over the past 25 years.  I have also gained valuable insights from holding leadership positions at both a university (University of Montana) and state wildlife agency (Colorado Parks and Wildlife). 

If elected, I would be committed to representing the voices of professionals and students across the Northwest Section on TWS Council.  Additionally, I would make a point to work in concert with the NW Section Executive Board to help strengthen member involvement at the section level, which is challenging given the large, complex geography. 

More broadly, I believe The Wildlife Society is as important now as ever given the threats to species conservation in North America, especially as science has become increasingly politicized.  I believe wildlife conservation and management must continually be informed by strong science (both biological and social) and implemented through meaningful collaboration and partnership.  I further believe TWS must continue to exercise leadership in concert with academia and employers to promote a more diverse workforce that is representative of the society we serve. 

Western Section

Jim Sedinger

I believe science is fundamental to effective management but science is often not effectively communicated from scientists to managers, policy makers, and the public. The Wildlife Society is the premier professional organization for both scientists and managers. As such TWS and its members are in a unique position to improve the flow of information, as recognized by recent articles in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Increasing human population and increasing demand for natural resources, however, are placing increasing stress on many wildlife populations. Additionally, increasing urbanization is reducing the experience of citizens with nature. These changes are placing additional pressure on the state and federal agencies responsible of conservation and management of wildlife and their habitats. These changes have immediate practical effects, such as reduced numbers of hunters and associated declining budgets for state and federal agencies responsible for management and conservation.  But the declining exposure of the public to our wildlands also has less direct impacts. For example, a significant segment of the public has unrealistic expectations about the ability of public lands to support the exploding populations of free-roaming horses without negative impacts on native species. Our country is rapidly becoming increasingly diverse, yet the wildlife profession has not been particularly successful at increasing the diversity within its ranks. Improving diversity is critical to the success of our profession as we move forward. The Wildlife Society is in a unique position to address these challenges, which is essential to the effective conservation of our wildlife resources.            

Kenneth E. Mayer

Candidate statement not provided.