Olivia E. LeDee

olivia ledee

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Fellow, Institute on the Environment

Acting Director, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

[email protected]

1954 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108

Education

Ph.D.      Conservation Biology,  University of Minnesota

M.S.        Conservation Biology,  University of Minnesota

B.S.         Biology, Loyola University

Background

In 2008, I completed a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. My dissertation addressed the relationship between non–breeding shorebird populations, landscape conversion, and management of listed species in coastal areas

From 2008-2012, my research focused on qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the vulnerability of wildlife to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. As a Research Associate and Assistant Scientist in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I worked with the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts and was the lead author of the wildlife assessment. During this time, I worked closely with multiple state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations to understand the effects of climate change on natural resources and respond with active management.

From 2012-2016, I worked for the State of Minnesota as a Policy and Planning Consultant in the Division of Fish and Wildlife. There, I provided technical, policy, and decision support on contentious issues and emerging threats, including climate change. I also represented the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on both the Department of Interior’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science and the Joint Implementation Working Group of the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy.

In my current role, I provide leadership in the areas of strategic science planning, interagency partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and program administration. In addition to research initiatives in wildlife impacts and adaptation, I provide training and technical assistance to natural resource managers to facilitate climate-informed decision-making.

In addition to my experience and interest in climate change, I also work in the areas of planning, public engagement, decision analysis, natural resource policy, and conservation funding.