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RESTON, Va. — Leading conservationist, academic, and labor advocate will serve as chair of the National Wildlife Federation following the conclusion of the 89th Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn. Kowal, who has served on the National Wildlife Federation’s Board of Directors since April 2016 and as chair-elect since June 2024, succeeds outgoing Board Chair .

“Fred Kowal embodies the idea that we can achieve more when we come together as One Federation and engage authentically with conservation partners, Indigenous peoples, and community organizations,” said , president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We look forward to working with Fred and our 52 state and territorial affiliates as we build bridges and advance commonsense conservation efforts. Fred has been an unwavering advocate for wildlife and people — and I look forward to seeing how he can guide our One Federation to meet the moment.”

“The National Wildlife Federation has endured and thrived because we bring people together, across generations and geography, to address the challenges facing people and wildlife alike. I will work to ensure we meet this moment in history the way we have for nearly a century: in cooperation and collaboration with our state and territorial affiliates, sovereign Tribal nations, frontline communities, and hard-working 皇冠体育app官网平台ns,” Kowal said. “Thank you to my predecessor, John Robbins, for his leadership and example. I look forward to advancing the Federation's mission and helping wildlife and people thrive.”

Kowal, who grew up in Chicopee, Mass., currently resides in Warnerville, N.Y. and has served as president of United University Professions since May 2013. He was previously a professor of political science and Native 皇冠体育app官网平台n Studies at the State University of New York at Cobleskill for nearly four decades. He has served as a vice president of the 皇冠体育app官网平台n Federation of Teachers since 2013. There he chairs the AFT's Climate Crisis Task Force.

Kowal started his career in Montana where he worked on the Flathead Indian Reservation. There he witnessed firsthand the Tribe’s fight to maintain its sovereignty and to preserve its cultural traditions. Following that experience, he returned East and started teaching at SUNY Cobleskill.

The National Wildlife Federation voted at its Annual Meeting to elect and re-elect a series of conservationists and affiliate members to its board of directors. The affiliates elected Rebecca Pritchett of the Alabama Wildlife Federation to serve as the board’s Eastern Vice Chair. The affiliates also elected and re-elected the following regional directors: Bob Brown of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation; Randy Jones of New Jersey Audubon; Rachel Sprague of the Conservation Council for Hawai驶i; and Jeremy Vesbach of the Arizona Wildlife Federation.

The board’s newly elected and re-elected at-large members are: Gerald “Buzz” Cobell, Andrea Keller Helsel, Miguel Ordenana, Mamie Parker, Rob Speidel, and Dr. Benjamin Tuggle.