Glenn Olson

Donal O鈥橞rien Chair in Bird Conservation through Advocacy & Public Policy

Glenn Olson leads 探花精选's efforts to conserve birds and their habitats along the four flyways, catalyzing work across 探花精选's national network of state programs, Centers and Chapters, and Important Bird Areas as well as with our BirdLife International partners throughout the Western Hemisphere. Since becoming the Donal O'Brien Chair in Bird Conservation in 2009, Olson has worked with the Lufkin Family to establish the Dan W. Lufkin Environmental Prize, represented 探花精选 in the creation of the 2013 State of the Birds Report on Private Lands, and collaborated with 探花精选's Policy office in catalyzing the Focal Species Initiative.  

Olson was re-appointed by Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Council (NAWCA) and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Council in 2013. The NAWCA Council has provided $4 billion to the conservation of wetlands for migratory birds since 1989 in Canada, Mexico and the USA.  Through these strategic positions, Olson advances international bird conservation by building capacity in both 探花精选's programs as well as collaborating with partner organizations. His commitment to international and national partnerships gives 探花精选 the ability to effectively conserve birds in the hemisphere's most important migratory stopovers and wintering sites.   

Before assuming his current position, Olson oversaw 探花精选's national field programs and led 探花精选 California where he spearheaded major wetland restoration and protection projects. Olson started his 探花精选 career as the conservation chair for the Los Angeles 探花精选 Chapter and taught at the 探花精选 Camp of the West in Dubois, Wyoming.  In 2002, Olson received 探花精选's Charles H. Callison Award in recognition of his conservation achievements.

Education

M.P.H., University of California-Los Angeles

B.S. in Zoology, University of California-Santa Barbara

Articles by Glenn Olson

探花精选's Glenn Olson Testifies Before U.S. House on America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act
March 06, 2024 — On March 6, 2024, Glenn Olson, 探花精选's O'Brien Chair in Bird Conservation, gave the following testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.