Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience consisted of natural resource professionals enrolled in leadership development workshops conducted in the last 12 months, including employees of the USDA Forest Service and members of the American Fisheries Society. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The major impact of this project is to inform leaders in agencies and academia regarding the extent of workforce change that is now occurring, and will continue to occur over the next two decades as baby boomers retire and the equally numerous Millenial generation enters the natural resource professions. The exodus of baby boomers challenges us to replace leadership and institutional memory. The influx of Millennials, challenges us to adapt work places to make them desirable to young professionals. Objective 1: Determine the demographic background, extent of participation in outdoor recreation activities, and career interests of students enrolled in fish and wildlife programs at numerous universities across the United States and compare findings to historical data where they exist. Results of efforts related to this objective reported in previous progress reports. Objective 2: Conduct leadership training workshops for natural resource professionals and assess the effects of such training on the interest of employees in seeking leadership positions within natural resource agencies. Throughout the life of the project, I conducted 38 leadership-related workshops with 528 participants. All workshops received 90%+ overall excellent ratings. Objective 3: Assess the opinions of employees of natural resource agencies regarding potential strategies designed to overcome reluctance to relocate for advancement. Previously reported.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
DiCenzo, V. and S. L. McMullin. 2013. Are students prepared to succeed as fish and wildlife professionals? Results of a survey of AFS members. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Little Rock, AR.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
McMullin, S. L. and V. DiCenzo. 2014. Student, faculty and employer perceptions of graduates' preparation to succeed as fisheries professionals. Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Charleston, SC.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience includes natural resource professionals and students. During this reporting period, I specifically reached working professionals in the U.S. Forest Service through several workshops, fisheries professionals at the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), leaders of student units of the AFS in a presentation made at the Southern Division AFS annual meeting, University of Tennessee Extension personnel, and graduate students in a class at Virginia Tech. I also reached a variety of agency and academic professionals in a special session at a national conference on diversity in natural resources held at Virginia Tech. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The PI attended a workshop to become certified to administer the EQ 2.0 and EQ 360 Emotional Intelligence instruments. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? At least two additional leadership workshops for US Forest Service personnel and one for members of the American Fisheries Society.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The major impact of this project is to inform leader in agencies and academia regarding the extent of workforce change that is now occurring, and will continue to occur over the next two decades as baby boomers retire and the equally numerous Millenial generation enters the natural resource professions. The exodus of baby boomers challenges us to replace leadership and institutional memory. The influx of Millennials, challenges us to adapt work places to make them desirable to young professionals. Goal 1: A survey of students in the introductory fisheries and wildlife course at Virginia Tech has been conducted each year of the project except for Fall 2013. Goal 2: Several leadership training workshops were conducted, including: (1) Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (US Forest Service, 27 participants, Missoula, MT); (2) Advanced Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (US Forest Service, 17 participants, Davis, CA); (3) Leading at all Levels in the AFS (American Fisheries Society, 20 participants, Little Rock, AR); Understanding Yourself and Working with Others (Beckwourth Ranger District, US Forest Service, 16 participants,Graegle, CA); Understanding Yourself and Working with Others (University of Tennessee Extension, 54 participants, Linden, TN). Goal 3: No work done on this goal this year.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
McMullin, S.L. 2013. Leadership in the AFS: how to lead without authority. Southern Division American Fisheries Society Student Leadership Workshop. Nashville, TN. February 10, 2013.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included surveys of students in introductory fisheries and wildlife classes at Virginia Tech and the University of Idaho. In addition, the PI served as director of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) Leadership Institute, teaching two courses to students selected to participate in the Institute. He also shared survey results of the surveys, an invited seminar to Virginia Tech's CNRE on the topic of generational changes in the natural resources professions, and a keynote speech on working across generations at the USDA Forest Service Northern Region University Forum. Events included delivery of 10 continuing education workshops dealing with leadership and team building for natural resource professionals. PARTICIPANTS: Steve L. McMullin, PI: responsible for all work associated with this project. Partner organizations included the University of Idaho, which collaborated in surveys of students in introdutory fisheries and wildlife classes. USDA Forest Service employees participated in 9 of the 10 workshops conducted by the PI. Members of the American Fisheries Society participated in the 10th workshop. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this project included students enrolled in natural resource programs at major universities and employees of natural resource agencies. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Workshop evaluations of Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (LAC) and Advanced Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (LAC-Adv) indicated that participants significantly increased their knowledge of the principles of leadership and practical tools for becoming more effective leaders, regardless of their positions. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is Strongly Disagree and 5 is Strongly Agree, participants in LAC averaged 4.70 in development of additional leadership skills and ability to apply knowledge in new situations. Responses for LAC-Adv to those same questions were 4.38 and 4.69. Nearly 100% of participants in LAC and all participants in LAC-Adv strongly agreed they would recommend the workshops to other natural resource professionals. Responses were similar for the other 8 workshops conducted by the PI.
Publications
- McMullin, S. L. 2011. Past and desired future participation in continuing education workshops sponsored by the Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Program of the USDA Forest Service. December 2011. Report prepared for the USDA Forest Service.
- McMullin, S. L. 2011. AFS membership survey 2011: continuing education participation and preferences. August 2011. Prepared for the Governing Board of the American Fisheries Society.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included surveys of students in introductory fisheries and wildlife classes at Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University, University of Georgia and University of Maine. In addition, the PI served as director of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment Leadership Institute, teaching two courses to undergraduate students selected to participate in the institute. He also gave a guest lecture in Virginia Tech's introductory fisheries and wildlife course to share the results of the surveys and an invited seminar to the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Idaho. Events included delivery of 8 continuing education workshops dealing with leadership and team building for natural resource professionals and one presentation (including one plenary presentation) at each of two conferences. Both conference presentations dealt with workforce planning issues in natural resource agencies. The PI also led a 4-day field trip for students participating in the College of Natural Resources and Environment Leadership Institute to Richmond, VA and Washington, DC. During the trip, students met and interviewed leaders in several state and federal natural resource agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and professionals associations and societies, as well as staff members for both US senators from Virginia. PARTICIPANTS: Steve L. McMullin, PI: responsible for all work associated with this project. Partner organizations included North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, University of Maine, and South Dakota State University, all of which collaborated in surveys of students in introdutory fisheries and wildlife classes. USDA Forest Service employees participated in 7 of the 8 workshops conducted by the PI. Members of the American Fisheries Society participated in the 8th workshop. All of the 8 workshops provided opportunities for professional development of participants. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this project included students enrolled in natural resource programs at major universities and employees of natural resource agencies. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Workshop evaluations of Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (LAC) and Advanced Leadership and Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (LAC-Adv) indicated that participants significantly increased their knowledge of the principles of leadership and practical tools for becoming more effective leaders, regardless of their positions. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is Strongly Disagree and 5 is Strongly Agree, participants in LAC averaged 4.52 in development of additional leadership skills and ability to apply knowledge in new situations. Responses for LAC-Adv to those same questions were 4.45 and 4.33. Nearly 100% of participants in each course strongly agreed they would recommend the workshops to other natural resource professionals. Responses were similar for the other 6 workshops conducted by the PI.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities during this period included surveys of students in introductory fisheries and wildlife classes at Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University, University of Georgia, and University of Maine. Efforts are ongoing to secure permission to conduct similar surveys of students at other universities, including Cornell University, Oregon State University, and Texas A & M University. In addition, I led efforts to create a Natural Resources Leadership Institute for undergraduate students at Virginia Tech. Twelve students were competitively selected to become the first cohort of students in the Leadership Institute. I taught a 2-credit leadership class for the Leadership Institute students during the Fall Semester 2010. Events during this period included continuing education workshops for U.S. Forest Service personnel as follows: Leadership & Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (Springfield, OR; January 2010, 30 participants, 7.5 days), Leadership & Communications for Natural Resource Professionals (Boise, ID, March 2010, 21 participants, 7.5 days), Understanding Yourself and Working with Others (Roseburg, OR; January 2010, 11 participants, 1 day), Understanding Yourself and Working with Others (Clarkston, WA; February 2010, 19 participants, 1.5 days), Understanding Yourself and Working with Others (Moscow, ID; March 2010, 5 participants, 1 day), Leading at All Levels in the American Fisheries Society (Pittsburgh, PA; September 2010, 20 participants, 0.5 days). Dissemination that occurred during this period included 2 presentations: a presentation to the Leadership Team of the National Wildlife Refuge Service (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) on the results of a survey of its employees regarding employee mobility for the purposes of advancement; and a presentation at the Pathways to Success human dimensions of wildlife conference in Estes Park, CO on the effects of changing demographics of students in university fish & wildlife programs on future recruitment to management agencies. PARTICIPANTS: Steve L. McMullin, principal investigator, coordinated efforts with partner organizations to implement surveys. Partner organizations included North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University, University of Georgia, and University of Maine. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge Service also collaborated. Discussions are ongoing with several other institutions of higher education. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include educators in university natural resource programs and leaders in natural resource agencies who are concerned about workforce planning. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Findings of the survey of employees in the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge Service are being used by the Service to design incentive programs that will entice talented employees to relocate in order to advance within the agency. Numerous universities are interested in the results of the surveys I have begun to conduct, but it is too early to assess the impacts of those surveys.
Publications
- Baydack, R., W. D. Edge, and S. L. McMullin. 2009. Preparing future wildlife professionals in wildlife education, do the ends justify the means The Wildlife Professional 3(4): 10-11.
- McMullin, S. L. 2009. Employee mobility in the National Wildlife Refuge System: a survey of employees. Report prepared for the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. October 2009.
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