Stuart D. Strahl

Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D. President and CEO of the Chicago Zoological Society.

"With 20 years of background in national and international programs, Dr. Stuart Strahl is a career conservationist with deep experience in applied science, restoration ecology, public policy, and not-for-profit management. Prior to arriving at CZS, Dr. Strahl led Audubon into national prominence as the acknowledged private-sector leader in the largest ecological restoration initiative in history, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. His prior positions include founding President/CEO of Audubon of Florida, Vice President and Everglades Conservation Director of the National Audubon Society, and Research Fellow and founding Director of Latin American Programs for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Dr. Strahl is dedicated to converting conservation into a mainstream public issue. He has worked extensively to develop lasting partnerships in the United States and Latin America, which have resulted in preservation of over 30 million acres of wildlife habitat and over $15 billion in conservation funding. He has broad experience in bringing together diverse interests around mainstream causes. He has served on various Boards of Directors, including the Society for Conservation Biology, the Everglades Foundation, and Vital Ground Foundation. Dr. Strahl is also well-versed in philanthropic support, having raised many millions of dollars in operational funding to support these initiatives. Dr. Strahl received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Bates College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and his Ph.D. in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany. He served for over 10 years as the founding Chair of the IUCN/SSC Specialist Group on the Avian Family Cracidae and on adjunct faculties of the University of Florida, State University of New York, Washington College, and elsewhere."