Fowl, Fish and Forest—Leadership Lessons from Great Conservationists

William K. Deal Endowed Leadership Lecture

Larry A. Nielsen, professor emeritus of natural resources at North Carolina State University, earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois, master’s degree at the University of Missouri and doctoral degree from Cornell University. He spent 40 years as a faculty member and administrator at Virginia Tech, Penn State and North Carolina State University before retiring in January 2018.

With a passion for teaching, Nielsen has instructed many courses about natural resources and related topics over the years. His teaching efforts have been recognized through the Excellence in Fisheries Education Award from the American Fisheries Society and being inducted into the North Carolina State Academy of Outstanding Teachers.

According to Nielsen, while the present may seem stressful for the environment and sustainability, we should not fear because “our world is better today than in the past, and it will be even better in the future.” He said if people follow the leadership of great conservationists such as Ding Darling, Billy Frank Jr. and Wangari Maathai, a sustainable and beautiful world can be achieved. “Their passion, persistence, and use of partnerships led them to extraordinary success. All we need to do is be like them,” Nielsen said of the conservationists.

This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.