Michelle Downey
Program Director, Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative; Program Director, Partnership in Forestry and Rangeland Research Program; Staff Coordinator, Ecosystem Management and Conservation Learning Community
Contact
Michelle Downey serves as the Director of the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative and The Partnership in Forestry and Rangeland at the Yale School of the Environment. These programs are dedicated to advancing conservation and stewardship in the American West. Through her leadership, Michelle fosters strategic partnerships with agencies, landowners, and NGOs to address pressing environmental challenges. Her mission is to build conservation capacity and cultivate skilled leaders by connecting Yale students to applied research and projects that impact the forests, rangelands, and waterways of the West.
With nearly 15 years of experience as an ecologist and wildlife biologist, Michelle has expertise in collaborative conservation, research, , plant community dynamics, and wildlife management. Her career spans diverse ecosystems and organizations, including nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and universities across seven U.S. states.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a focus on Ecology, Biodiversity, and Evolutionary Biology, from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Science in Wildlife and Range Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Education
Masters of Science in Range and Wildlife Management, 2015
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2009