Vicky Meretsky

Vicky Meretsky is a Professor and Director of Environmental Master's Programs at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, where she has served since 1997. She holds affiliate appointments in the Department of Biology, Maurer School of Law, Integrated Program in the Environment, and Russian and Eastern European Institute, and serves as a science advisor to the Nature Conservancy and Sycamore Land Trust while advising Indiana's Technical Advisory Committee on Herpetofauna.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. from University of Arizona (1995)
• M.Sc. in Statistics from University of Arizona (1993)
• M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology from Humboldt State University (1988)
• B.Sc. from Cornell University (1980)

Meretsky's research focuses on landscape-scale conservation, rare species ecology, adaptive management integration, and climate change impacts. Current projects examine public lands conservation planning, managed relocation policies under climate change, and graduate science-policy training methodologies, building on prior work with California condors, Grand Canyon endangered species, and northern spotted owls.

Her 2012-2021 publications reveal a consistent interdisciplinary approach bridging conservation science and policy, with recurring themes in Endangered Species Act implementation, state wildlife legislation, climate adaptation strategies, and human dimensions of conservation. The work demonstrates strong methodological diversity spanning ecological field studies, policy analysis, and social science frameworks.

Meretsky has received significant recognition for her contributions:

• Trustees Teaching Award (2012, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003)
• O'Neill Outstanding Teaching Award (2010, 2002, 1998)
• Volunteer of the Year, Sycamore Land Trust (2017)

She mentors graduate students through capstone projects with major conservation entities including the National Council on Science and the Environment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Defenders of Wildlife, and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, with research supported by these partnerships and her advisory roles.

Meretsky actively participates in the Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching, serves on Indiana's Technical Advisory Committee on Herpetofauna, and provides science advisory services to conservation organizations, demonstrating deep engagement with both academic and applied conservation communities.