Keynote Speaker: Michael J. Mortimer, JD, PhD

Dr. Mortimer is the Director of Forest Policy for the Society of American Foresters in Bethesda, Maryland, where he primarily serves as policy analyst, lobbyist, and media resource on national forestry issues. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center where he carries on an active teaching and research program. His primary professional and research interests center around public land management, environmental conflict resolution, and administrative processes.  He received his PhD from the University of Montana’s School of Forestry, his law degree from Penn State, and has also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He is the author of more than 40 scientific papers, technical reports, and popular articles addressing various natural resources issues, and in his free time he is currently co-authoring a textbook on natural resource agencies and administration.