Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stefan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs. Ekernas brings over two decades of experience spearheading conservation projects in North America, Asia and Africa.

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“Stefan's deep and diverse expertise in species conservation will be instrumental in helping to bring Defenders' strategic priorities to life as we advance our mission to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction,” said Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “Stefan is a valuable addition to our team of experts, and I look forward to working alongside him as we plan for the future of conservation in America."  

Prior to joining Defenders, Stefan served as director of Colorado Field Conservation for Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, where he was responsible for advancing bison restoration, bipartisan legislation authorizing wolverine reintroduction to Colorado, state funding for wildlife crossings, bighorn sheep conservation on Navajo Nation, community science on American pika, reintroductions of dung beetles and a multi-department effort to conserve state endangered boreal toads. Additionally, he served as a wildlife biologist with U.S. Geological Survey from 2016-2019, where he led nationwide aerial surveys and developed population models for the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse and burro program.  

“I’ve always been drawn by a perpetual curiosity to explore our planet’s landscapes, cultures and species, so I’m incredibly excited to join Defenders right at the intersection of these three and support the mission to protect and restore America’s wildlife,” said Stefan Ekernas, vice president of species conservation and coexistence at Defenders of Wildlife. “It is an honor to join a team of the most dedicated experts around the country and contribute to the very issue areas that drew me to this field. I look forward to our future accomplishments together.”  

Stefan earned his Ph.D. in fish and wildlife biology and M.Sc. in organismal biology and ecology from the University of Montana, a M.A. in conservation biology from Columbia University and a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College. He is also an adjoint assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver and the vice chair of the board for Summit County Safe Passages.  

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