A Celebration of the Theodore Roosevelt Professorship in Ecosystem Management
April 7, 2003
School of Natural Resources & Environment
University of Michigan

The Theodore Roosevelt Professorship in Ecosystem Management, created in 1995 through a generous donation from the Searle Family Foundation, is intended to provide leaders in ecosystem management, ecosystem conservation, and ecosystem restoration, an area where the school already enjoys leadership standing. Naming the professorship after President Roosevelt, an American who was one of the first to recognize the importance of the environment to America's citizenry and to its future, reflects the Searle's intent that the bold, effective and path-setting leadership Roosevelt offered in the conservation field during his lifetime should also be the qualities which characterize this professorship.

The first such position in the United States, it will be used to establish linkage in these areas between public and private sectors and to affect the science, policy and management of ecosystems in this country and internationally. In order to provide flexibility and a dynamic focus on evolving topics, appointments are five year length terms.

In December 2002, Dr. Steven Yaffee was selected as the second Theodore Roosevelt Professor in Ecosystem Management at the School of Natural Resources & Environment. Dr. Yaffee has worked for more than twenty years on federal endangered species, public lands and ecosystem management policy. His most recent work explores ecosystem management as a conceptual framework for managing natural resources, and multi-party, collaborative problem-solving efforts as necessary elements of an ecosystem approach. Presently, Dr. Yaffee serves on the Ecosystem Management and Conservation Biology faculty theme group which is exploring ways to strengthen this area of study and research throughout SNRE.

On April 7, 2003, Dr. Yaffee presented the 2003 The Theodore Roosevelt Professor in Ecosystem Management Lecture entitled From Pelican Island to Pacific Salmon: Transitions in Conservation at the University of Michigan Alumni Center. Following the presentation, Steven Yaffee, Barry D. Gold [Program Officer for Conservation and Sustainability Science, David and Lucile Packard Foundation] and Elizabeth Estill [Deputy Chief, USDA - Forest Service] participated in a panel discussion and answered questions from members of the audience. Once the formal presentation and discussion concluded, the audience was invited to attend a poster session featuring current and past research projects from SNRE faculty and students and a reception.

Afterwards, invited guests joined Dr. Yaffee, his family, colleagues, EMI staff and Advisory Board Members for a celebratory dinner at the Michigan League to conclude the inaugural festivities.