Join us for April’s Public Policy in Practice event as we welcome Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of PA’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Governor Tom Wolf has appointed Cindy Adams Dunn to be the sixth secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), returning to the agency where she worked under three governors in multiple positions over the last two decades. The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Dunn as secretary of DCNR on June 2, 2015.
Dunn had previously served as the president and chief executive officer of PennFuture, a statewide environmental advocacy organization.
Prior to her time at PennFuture, Dunn served as DCNR’s Deputy Secretary of Conservation and Technical Services from 2007-2013, where she led DCNR's conservation landscape program and oversaw the community conservation partnerships grant program, which provides $30-$60 million annually for conservation and recreation throughout the commonwealth.
Dunn's other leadership posts at DCNR include director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, as well as director of the Office of Education, Communications and Partnerships. For two years in the mid ‘90s, Dunn joined DCNR for the first time as director of community relations and environmental education.
Dunn's other leadership roles include serving as the executive director of Audubon Pennsylvania from 1997-2003 and as the Pennsylvania program director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for 10 years.
Over the years, Dunn has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership in conservation including:
- The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Frances E. Flanigan Environmental Leadership Award
- Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation Conservationist of the Year
- Cumberland County Conservation District Conservationist of the Year
- The Appalachian Audubon Society Conservationist of the Year
- Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Maurice K. Goddard Award for Excellence in Environmental Recreation
- Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals Karl Mason Award
Dunn holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Shippensburg University. She and her husband, Craig, reside in Cumberland County.
About the series:
The Public Policy in Practice Series, led by Fels Distinguished Fellow Elizabeth Vale, is designed to provide students with a variety of perspectives and compelling personal narratives that will help them not only form their opinions on important issues but will also help shape their careers. This series is offered in conjunction with the Fels graduate Public Management course required of all Fels MPA and Executive MPA students. Fels is proud to offer these important conversations to the entire Penn community and members of the public.
Remarks begin promptly at 6 p.m.
