Dr. Patrick Rusz, Director of Wildlife Programs, Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. Ph.D. in wildlife ecology with a minor in environmental law, M.S., B.S. in fisheries and wildlife management - Michigan State University.

Dr. Patrick Rusz has served as Director of Wildlife Programs for the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy since 1986. Dr. Rusz directs all habitat projects for the Conservancy which  range from large-scale efforts to restore wetlands, streams, and upland habitats to small projects to improve songbird habitat in urban areas. Prior to joining the Conservancy, he served as an environmental consultant for 13 years, and spent nine years as a faculty member and assistant to the Deans at Grand Valley State University in west Michigan. He was the first President of the West Michigan Chapter of the Michigan Duck Hunters Association and has been active in many other conservation groups.

Since 1979, Dr. Rusz has also been a certified city and regional planner, a rare but very useful credential for a wildlife professional. He is equally skilled in solving fish or wildlife problems in urban as well as rural areas. He has been fish and wildlife management consultant in 15 different states and in Australia, has published a number of technical papers and major environmental reports, and has been active in state and local organizations concerned with land use and environmental issues.