College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Doug Beard (Keynote Speaker)

Dr. Doug Beard retired in May 2025 as the Senior Administrator of the National Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) and is now a scientist emeritus with USGS. Prior to retirement, he had oversight and management responsibility for the nine regional USGS CASCs. He previously held the position of Acting Associate Director for the Land Resources Mission Area. In this role, he provided executive level oversight for several programs, including the Land Change Science Program, Land Remote Sensing Program, National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Climate Research and Development Program, Carbon Sequestration assessments, and the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center. Doug also served as the program coordinator for the USGS Fisheries: Aquatic and Endangered Resources Program and prior to working with USGS he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a staff fisheries biologist.

Doug is a fellow of the American Fisheries Society, served as the President of the World Council of Fisheries Societies, Chair of the World Fisheries Congress Steering Committee and member of the first Global Inland Fisheries Conference Steering Committee.  Doug continues in his role as a bureau member representing Western Europe and Other Governments for the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the science lead for the U.S. government to IPBES.  Doug has published over 70+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, edited two books and given countless number of talks on fisheries, biodiversity and climate change science. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a master’s degree in fish and wildlife sciences from Penn State University, and a doctorate in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

James Cummins (Keynote Speaker)

James Cummins is the Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi. He formerly worked in the U.S. Senate for Senator Thad Cochran, and conceptualized legislation for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Emergency Forest Restoration Program, and the Endangered Species Recovery Program. James is the Immediate Past-President of the Boone and Crockett Club, North America’s oldest conservation organization. As a Regular Member of the Club, he also serves as a member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Conservation Policy Committee, and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.  He is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, formerly serving as Chair of its Federal Policy Committee. He also serves on the board of the National Bobwhite and Grasslands Initiative, the Black Landowners Agricultural and Conservation Land Trust, and The Piney Woods School, the largest, private black boarding school in the nation. He is the previous Chair of the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory, a former Commissioner for the Mississippi Forestry Commission, and currently serves on the Board of the Binational Softwood Lumber Council.

James received his B.S. degree from Mississippi State University, his M.S. degree from Virginia Tech, and is a certified fisheries and wildlife biologist. He co-edited the books, Fish and Wildlife Management, A Handbook for Mississippi Landowners, the textbook, North American Wildlife Policy and Law, and edited the book, The Poachers Nightmare, Untold Stories of an Undercover Game Warden. James, a native of Greenville, Mississippi, owns his family’s farm, which has been in his family continuously since 1833. He is married to Martha Dalrymple and assists her with the family’s timber and cattle operations. James enjoys hunting big game, upland birds, fly fishing, and photographing wildlife. 

Marc Gaden (Panelist)

Dr. Marc Gaden grew up in southeastern Michigan and has spent most of his professional career working to protect and improve the Great Lakes. He currently serves as Executive Secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a US/Canadian agency established by treaty to improve and perpetuate the Great Lakes fishery. He has worked extensively on issues involving regional coordination of fisheries policies, invasive species, and ecosystem restoration. Prior to joining the Great Lakes Fishery Commission secretariat, Marc worked as a Legislative Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Great Lakes Task Force, researching, proposing, and advocating legislation of benefit to the Great Lakes region. Marc also worked as a Legislative Assistant and Caseworker for U.S. Congressperson Dennis M. Hertel (D-MI), specializing in Great Lakes, environment, transportation, immigration, and Social Security issues.

Marc is an adjunct associate professor at the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University and an adjunct assistant professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan. In addition to guest lectures, he teaches courses in environmental and water policy and has written about environmental governance, Great Lakes policy, and cooperative fishery management. Currently, he teaches the course “Global Water” at the University of Michigan. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment in 2007, a Master of Arts degree in United States Foreign Policy from The American University in 1993, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1991. 

Becky Humphries (Panelist)

Becky Humphries has a long career in Conservation, having worked 32 years for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and as CEO of several national conservation nonprofits. She started her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but quickly decided that work with the Michigan DNR was her calling. As a wildlife biologist she worked in several field locations in the state, but eventually worked in Lansing as the Wildlife Division Chief and then Director of the Michigan DNR. After leaving state service in 2010, Becky joined Ducks Unlimited as the Conservation Operations Director for the Great Lakes Region. In 2013, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) lured her to South Carolina, where she served as the Chief of Conservation, Chief Operating Officer, and then CEO. She retired from NWTF in 2023, but was asked to step in as CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in 2023/2024. Becky now serves on the Board of Directors for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and chairs the Wildlife Health Subcommittee for Boone & Crockett Club. Most recently, Becky was named Chair of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission by Governor Whitmer. Becky lives north of Lowell, Michigan, on property overlooking the Flat River. She grew up hunting and fishing in Michigan. She and her late husband, Bob, have passed on their love of the outdoors to their three children and now grandchildren. 

Jo Latimore (Panel Moderator)

Dr. Jo Latimore is an Aquatic Ecologist and Outreach Specialist at Michigan State University, where she serves as the founding director of the MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams and statewide leader of the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps). Her work focuses on empowering communities to protect and manage Michigan’s inland lakes and streams through volunteer monitoring, education, and engagement. She collaborates with local organizations, agencies, and community scientists to generate critical data on water quality and aquatic invasive species, while fostering stewardship and informed decision-making. Jo is widely recognized for her ability to bridge science and practice, making complex ecological issues accessible and actionable for diverse audiences. In addition to her leadership with MiCorps, Dr. Latimore contributes to applied research on freshwater ecology, invasive species management, and community-based conservation. She is an experienced educator and communicator, frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses, workshops, and training programs across the Great Lakes region. Her professional accomplishments include numerous peer-reviewed publications, Extension bulletins, and outreach resources that support both professionals and volunteers in natural resource management. She holds a PhD in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University, an MS in biological sciences from the University of Notre Dame, and a BA in biology from Albion College. A lifelong Michigander, Jo brings passion, expertise, and a collaborative spirit to advancing the protection of Michigan’s freshwater resources.

Tammy Newcomb (Panelist)

Dr. Tammy Newcomb currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Director for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. In her MDNR role, she leads statewide issues for the Department such as preventing invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes, and coordination of cross departmental issues related to the Great Lakes. Tammy serves as chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors’ and Premieres’ Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. During her 24 years of service in the DNR, Tammy has served half of that time in Executive as Assistant Director and as the Department’s Senior Water Policy Advisor and half of that time in Fisheries Division as Research Program Manager and Lake Huron Basin Coordinator. During her time with the DNR, she led the implementation of a newly created $5 million invasive species program for the State of Michigan and a $1 million innovation challenge on invasive carp. Tammy received her B.S. and Ph.D. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and an M.S. from West Virginia University in Forestry. Before beginning service with the MDNR, Tammy was an Assistant Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a research program focused on management of regulated rivers. She was appointed by the Secretary of the Army to serve for 8 years as member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Science Advisory Board and has enjoyed serving on three National Academy of Science Panels regarding the Klamath River Basin and the Columbia River.

Mark Rey (Panelist)

Mark E. Rey became an Executive in Residence at MSU after serving eight years as the nation’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the USDA. As an Administration official, Mr. Rey successfully passed Senate confirmation. As Under Secretary, Mr. Rey oversaw the programs for the U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service. The agencies within this mission area managed the 192-million-acre National Forest System as well as conservation projects on 210 million acres of farm and ranch lands, they employed nearly 45,000 full-time personnel and administered a budget of nearly eight billion dollars. Mr. Rey teaches undergraduate and graduate students at Michigan State University as an Executive in Residence, and he is also affiliated with the Livingston Group, a public policy consulting firm. 

Serving on Capitol Hill for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Rey was responsible for drafting legislation, organizing over 100 legislative and oversight hearings, coordinating media relations, counseling Committee members and other Senate and House members and staff, along with working with Executive Branch officials. In the private sector, Mr. Rey held the position of Vice President for the American Forest and Paper Association (AFP&A) and the Executive Director of the American Forest Resource Alliance. Mr. Rey earned several degrees from the University of Michigan, including a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Administration, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, and Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management.