Mamie Parker

Dr. Mamie A. Parker is a trailblazing conservationist, executive coach, and transformational speaker renowned for her pioneering contributions to environmental leadership and mentorship. Featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, she serves on boards of prominent organizations such as the Chesepeake Bay Foundation, Duke University NSOE, The Nature Conservancy (Virginia Chapter), Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Commissioner, and the National Wildlife Federation, championing governance and diversity in conservation. As an Aspen Institute Fellow, Dr. Parker was awarded the Council of World Women Leaders’ exchange fellowship, enabling her to work in Lesotho and South Africa to advance global conservation initiatives. She received international acclaim in China for her presentation at the World Fisheries Congress, addressing the impacts of climate change on coastal cities and communities of color.

Dr. Parker’s career includes 30 years as a fish and wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), working across locations in Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. She played a pivotal role in NEPA compliance, Clean Water Act wetland restoration, and numerous conservation efforts. She became the first Black Regional Director and Senior Executive Service member in the FWS’s 135-year history.

Dr. Parker’s leadership has earned her prestigious honors, including the John L. Morris Award, the Presidential Rank Award, and the FWS Annual Ira Gabrielson Award. She has facilitated sessions at the White House Conference on the Environment and delivered commencement addresses at multiple universities. Her commitment to environmental advocacy was inspired by her mother, a sharecropper and outdoorswoman, and Marvin Gaye’s anthem, Mercy, Mercy Me. Dr. Parker is the founder of a consulting firm specializing in leadership development and conservation strategy. Her groundbreaking work has left an indelible mark on the field, and she remains a role model for future generations of conservation leaders.