NCR Faculty Association

The Concept

Faculty in the National Capital Region have suggested and overwhelmingly supported the idea of initiating a “Last Lecture” series, to honor faculty in the region for their service to the university and dedication to Virginia Tech's graduate programs in the region. The NCR Faculty Association has enthusiastically taken this on as a way to do just that, as well as to continue to build community and to reach out to the public.

Each year, if deemed appropriate, the NCR Faculty Association will select one of our own to give a lecture on a topic of his or her choosing to an open audience including current and former colleagues, alumni, and friends. It will be in a venue open to the public and will be coordinated with the end-of-semester activities in the spring.

The Event

The inaugural "Last Lecture" will be on May 1st, 2008, officially Virginia Tech's Reading Day, the day after classes end and before exams. The venue is being provided by Arlington County's Office of Economic Development, at their meeting facility: the 15th floor of the CACI building at 1100 North Glebe Road, Suite 1500. Mark your calendars: May 1st, 4 pm to 6 pm, with light refreshments to follow the talk.

The Speaker

This year's speaker is Professor David L. Trauger, Director for Natural Resources Programs for Virginia Tech in the National Capital Region. He also serves as Interim Associate Dean for the Graduate School, representing the region. Trauger came to Virginia Tech in 2001, taking on the directorship of the NCR Natural Resources program, and he has nurtured and fostered its growth ever since. Enrollments are now well over 200 students, about triple the number from just two years ago.

David Trauger's career has included a broad range of experience in fish and wildlife conservation. After receiveing his doctorate in animal ecology from Iowa State University, he joined the faculty and taught wildlife conservation and environmental biology at Iowa State, then began over 30 years of public service working first for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a research wildlife biologist, studying the breeding biology and migrational ecology of diving ducks in Canada and the north-central States. Later, he became Assistant Center Director at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Rsearch Center in Jamestown, North Dakota, then Center Director at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. Before retiring from public service to join Virginia Tech, Trauger was also Chief of Wildlife Research with USFWS and Senior Staff Biologist with the US Geological Survey.

With wide-ranging interests in issues like biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and natural resources management, Trauger has published widely and has received numerous awards for professional service throughout his career. He is most proud of recognition for his efforts to foster diversity recruitment in natural resources professions. He is also well known at Virginia Tech for his deep commitment to raising awareness among his students and peers about the environmental threats and related social and economic challenges facing us all in this new millennium.