Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) congratulates Director Nicole F. Angeli, Ph.D., of the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) on her receiving the Mark J. Reeff Memorial Award at the 112th Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies that was held from Sept. 18-21. in Fort Worth, Texas.
The award is “to recognize a distinguished young wildlife management professional for outstanding service in the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for overcoming challenges through creative, determined initiatives of the nominee’s own device, producing benefits beyond the immediate area of the mandate of the nominating agency.”
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management, and conservation of fish, wildlife and their habitats in the public interest.
“Dr. Angeli has been the Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife since 2018. During that time, she has greatly increased the division’s budget and scope with new funding opportunities from the Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency, which have never been awarded to the division, and, at the same time, she has more than tripled the division’s full-time staff,” said Commissioner Oriol.
During Angeli’s career, she has published more than 30 scientific publications, along with several textbook chapters and a children’s book that talks about her work with the endangered St. Croix ground lizard. Angeli continues to grow the division and its important work towards the management and conservation of the Virgin Islands’ natural resources.
