Contact: Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 920/832-6590
For Immediate Release
November 30, 2001

Former Wisconsin DNR Chief Named to Lawrence University Professorship

APPLETON, WIS. -- George Meyer, who will retire next summer after a 30-year career with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including eight as the department's secretary, has been named the Stephen Edward Scarff Memorial Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies at Lawrence University for the 2002-2003 academic year.

During his appointment, which begins next September and runs through June, 2003, Meyer will teach courses on the law and the environment as well as a course on Wisconsin environmental issues.

Meyer served as secretary of the Wisconsin DNR -- widely regarded as the nation's most comprehensive state conservation and environmental protection agency -- from 1993 until February of this year. Since stepping down from his secretary post, he has remained with the department, serving as a special assistant to Darrell Bazzell, who was appointed Meyer's successor as DNR secretary by Governor Scott McCallum.

As DNR secretary, Meyer helped form the Environmental Council of States, a national association of the 50-state environmental agencies, acquired more than 150,000 acres in the state for conservation purposes and developed cooperative working agreements with the Netherlands, Germany's state of Bavaria and the Russian state of Buryatia.

"We are delighted that George Meyer will be joining Lawrence next year as the Stephen Edward Scarff Distinguished Professor," said President Richard Warch in announcing Meyer's appointment. "His experience with environmental law and public policy, and his familiarity with issues of special importance to Wisconsin, will allow him to enrich our programs in government and economics and especially our new and growing program in environmental studies."

Born and raised in New Holstein, Meyer joined the Wisconsin DNR in 1972 as a staff attorney and in 1980 was named an administrator in the Division of Enforcement. In that role, he directed programs in water regulation and zoning, environmental analysis and review, including environmental impact statements and mining and power plant reviews, among others. He also oversaw the implementation of the controversial Chippewa Indians off-reservation hunting, fishing and gathering rights case.

"I am greatly honored to be asked to be the Scarff professor at Lawerence for the 2002-2003 academic year," said Meyer. "Lawrence is an outstanding academic institution and I am truly looking forward to teaching in the environmental studies program. During my relatively brief exposure to Lawrence, I've been greatly impressed by the faculty and students that I have met and I am truly looking forward to spending an academic year at Lawrence."

Meyer's contributions to conservation and the environment have been recognized frequently, including the "Conservation of the Year" award from the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and the "Outstanding Leadership Award" from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

Meyer earned his bachelor's degree in economics from St. Norbert College and his law degree at the University of Wisconsin.

The Scarff Memorial Visiting Professorship was established in 1989 by Edward and Nancy Scarff in memory of their son, Stephen, a 1975 Lawrence graduate who died in an automobile accident in 1984. It is designed to bring public servants, professional leaders and scholars to Lawrence to provide broad perspectives on the central issues of the day.