Chad is Director of the Wildlife Biology Program and Professor in the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences at University of Montana (2015 – present). As Director, Chad is responsible for a wide array of functions tied to leading the wildlife biology program, with an emphasis on faculty and student support and program outreach and development. He teaches multiple undergraduate courses and leads a research lab focused primarily on ungulate ecology. His research emphasizes wildlife nutrition and demography in applied contexts to inform habitat and species management decisions. Prior to University of Montana, he spent nearly 16 years working for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, initially as an ungulate researcher and later as the Assistant Director for Wildlife and Natural Resources. He received a B.S. degree from Montana State University in Biology with a Fish and Wildlife emphasis (1995), M.S. from University of Idaho in Wildlife Resources (1998), and Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Wildlife Biology (2007).
Chad has been actively engaged in The Wildlife Society (TWS) since 1996. He is a past president of both the Montana and Colorado Chapters of TWS and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist. He serves on the Executive Boards of the Western Conservation Leadership Development Program and the Teller Wildlife Refuge in western Montana. He additionally serves on the Steering Committee for the National Cooperators Coalition, as representative of the National Association of University Fisheries and Wildlife Programs. Chad is also a professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club. He is motivated to serve on TWS Council as an opportunity to give back to the Society that has been foundational to his professional development. He believes wholeheartedly in the mission and vision of TWS and looks forward to helping advance TWS for benefit of students, professionals, and wildlife.
