April Croxton
President

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
1315 East West Highway, Suite 11321
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Office: 301-734-1069
Email: [email protected]

April Croxton is an Analyst for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Policy, Planning, and Evaluation office. Previously, she worked for NOAA as a research fishery biologist, where she designed, conducted, and led original laboratory and field experimental research on bivalve species to identify immunological effects following exposure to environmental stressors. As an AFS member, Croxton served as the President of the Equal Opportunity Section and on the AFS Governing Board, and represents AFS on the Management Board of the Diversity Joint Venture, an initiative to increase representation of women and people of color in conservation careers. Croxton holds a BS in biology from Virginia Union University and a PhD in environmental sciences with a focus in aquatic toxicology from Florida A&M University.

Cecil Jennings
President Elect

Email: [email protected]

Jennings is a Fisheries Research Biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. His work addresses an assortment of fish management or conservation issues and includes investigations into fish population dynamics, life history, age and growth, food habits, habitat use and movement patterns, assemblage response to habitat perturbations, and human dimensions. He also serves as Adjunct Professor of Fisheries in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Previously, he worked with the Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jennings holds a bachelor’s degree in biology/natural science/conservation from Carthage College, a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries ecology from Mississippi State University, and a Ph.D. in fisheries science from the University of Florida. Jennings is a life member and Fellow of AFS and has been involved in the Society for 35 years. He has served on 12 different committees, as president of the Georgia Chapter and Southern Division, as an Associate Editor for two of the Society’s journals (North American Journal of Fisheries Management and Transactions of the American Fisheries Society), and on the AFS Governing Board.

Miguel Garcia-Bermudez
First Vice President

Email: [email protected]

Miguel Garcia-Bermudez, Ph.D., is Fish and Wildlife Administrator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Application Program (U.S. Caribbean). Prior to joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, Dr. Garcia had a 25‐year professional career at the local level for the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (PRDRNA), eventually becoming Director of Fisheries and Wildlife. He worked to help catalyze and support the professional development of agency staff, including establishing cooperative agreements with academic institutions in the mainland USA and founding the AFS Puerto Rico Chapter. Garcia has also served as Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champion (May 2020) and in the fisheries field, Puerto Rico Delegate for the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council, and President of the Puerto Rico Chapter of AFS. He also led the inclusion of Puerto Rico in the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership in 2016, steered hosting of the first ever AFS Southern Division Meeting outside the continental USA in San Juan in 2018, and co-led the first Latin American Caribbean Theme Day session during the recent AFS Virtual Annual Meeting in September 2020.

Gary Whelan
Second Vice President

MI DNR Fisheries Division
P.O. Box 30446
Lansing, MI 48909
TEL: 517-242-2764
Email: [email protected]

Gary is a Program Manager with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources – Fisheries Division.  His responsibilities include managing the Division’s Research Section, Fish Health Program, and a small bit of the Habitat Management Program. He also is the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) Board’s Science and Data Committee co-chair and has been working on NFHP since 2004. He has been active on multiple Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency committees for 20 years. On any given day, Gary works on topics ranging from 5-micron pathogens to the landscape ecology of the U.S.  He has been working for MI DNR for 35 years in many capacities and professionally for nearly 40 years. He received his B.S. in Zoology and Physiology with an emphasis on fisheries science from the University of Wyoming and M.S. from the University of Missouri in fisheries management. Gary is a life member and Fellow of AFS and has been a member for 44 years. Gary has served on 12 Society committees, as President of the North Central Division, as President or President Elect of 4 Sections, as Meeting Chair for 2 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conferences, and on the Governing Board and Management Committee multiple times.

Leanne Roulson
Past President

Salus Resources, Inc.
Bozeman, MT
TEL: 406-690-4223
Email: [email protected]

Leanne is a fisheries biologist and environmental policy specialist. She is a Certified Fisheries Professional with more than 20 years of experience working in natural resources consulting. Leanne manages environmental policy projects involving energy (hydropower, solar, oil, and gas), mineral development, land management, and transportation across the western and southeast United States. She conducts ecological surveys for fish and other aquatic organisms, riparian and wetland assessments, and mitigation planning. Her policy experience includes wild and scenic rivers planning, public meeting facilitation, comment analysis, agency consultation, and large-scale environmental impact statements and environmental assessments for federal and state agencies throughout the western United States. Leanne received her B.S. in Biology at the University of Oregon  and her  M.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management at Montana State University  where she now teaches a Science Communication seminar. She served as Montana Chapter president and as the Western Division (WDAFS) president. Her AFS involvement includes work on the Resource Policy, Time and Place, Nomination, Ethics and Professional Conduct, Meetings Oversight, and Professional Certification committees and serving as the AFS representative to the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS).