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February 10, 2004
From Yellowstone National Park to Ely, Jim Williams is helping educate
people about wolves where wolves thrive as top predators in their ecosystems.
Williams, 34, replaced Gretchen Diessner to become the International Wolf Centeršs assistant director for education in early January. He will oversee the organizationšs Ely educational flagship facility, Twin Cities and national outreach education staff.
"Jim comes to us from the Yellowstone Association in Wyoming, where he managed educational programs for more than 3,500 students a year, taught backcountry field courses and worked in partnership with national, state and local agencies," said Center Executive Director Walter Medwid. "Wešre delighted to have someone of his caliber to work with our terrific Ely staff and the community."
The non-profit Center serves about 50,000 visitors a year in Ely and has nearly 10,000 members. Its new national education efforts include working with the Wolf Forum for the Southern Rockies on potential wolf recovery there, expanding a regional wolf education curriculum for use nationwide and presenting teacher workshops around the country.
Williams earned his B.S. in psychology from Yale University and continued his education at Rutgers University until he became director of sales and operations for Out West Global Adventures, designing travel programs in Alaska, Baja, Utah, Arizona and in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier parks.
"I have long admired the International Wolf Center as a model of educational excellence and professional integrity," said Williams. "The Center's museum and live wolf exhibit, educational programs, and publications stand among the best in the country and make a real difference for the survival of wolves throughout the world. It is an honor to join the staff here."
While he supervised about 90 instructors teaching about the entire Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, Williams said, "among the most vivid and warm memories of my life are memories of wolves encountering the Leopold Pack deep in the backcountry on a snowy November day, following the fresh tracks of the Swan Lake Pack through a dusting of March snow, and hearing Dave Mech narrate a wolf kill while it played out before us."
"It will be a pleasure and a privilege to work with the Center to give other people similar memories, to help them understand these complex animals and inspire them to protect wild wolves around the world," he said.
"I feel very fortunate to be here," Williams says, "Ely has the warmth of a small town, the cultural life of a small city, and the wilderness opportunities of a national park. Plus, my dog Pea loves it. What more could I want?"
Press release contact:
Mary Ortiz - mortiz@wolf.org
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