Wisconsin Center for Wildlife

The Wisconsin Center for Wildlife is under new leadership! Jason Riddle, Ph.D., is the new Douglas R. Stephens Chair in Wildlife, WCW Director, and Extension Wildlife Specialist. The WCW thanks Interim Director, Shelli Dubay, Ph.D., for her excellent and outstanding leadership in 2024. 

Jason Riddle has a long history of bird resea​​rch, teaching, and engaging diverse audiences in wildlife conservation. Riddle is transitioning from his position as Gerald and Helen Stephens Professor in Wildlife at UW-Stevens Point to the new WCW Director and Doug R. Stephens Endowed Chair in Wildlife. Though his previous role was a full-time teaching position, Riddle also advised numerous undergraduate research projects, served as Principal Investigator for many graduate research projects, and participated in outreach and public education. He is a beloved teacher at UW-Stevens Point, teaching courses including Ecological Basis for Natural Resources Management, Wildlife Statistics, and Wildlife Management Techniques. Riddle also has held roles in prominent professional organizations: he has been President of the Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society and the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society (NCSTWS) and is currently the NSCTWS Council Representative to The Wildlife Society Council.

Riddle’s primary research interests and expertise are in bird conservation and management with emphasis on songbirds and upland game birds. Riddle also has expertise in wildlife statistical techniques. Originally from Virginia, he studied Biology and minored in Anthropology at the College of William & Mary.  It was there that he began working with shorebirds. He moved on to study songbirds at Appalachian State University where he earned his Master of Biology.  Finally, he earned his Ph.D. at North Carolina State University studying bobwhite quail and songbirds on agricultural lands. In his free time, Riddle enjoys duck hunting, kayaking, and Judo. 

Learn more about Riddle's research and activites as the Douglas R. Stephens Chair in Wildlife, WCW Director and Extension Specialist​. 

Jason Riddle is excited to take on the WCW Director role and looks forward to devoting more of his time to Extension activities and research.  Through collaboration with UW-Extension and other partners, Riddle plans to work towards establishing the WCW as a catalyst for a future in which people and wildlife thrive together in Wisconsin. Riddle will continue to teach a course on Wildlife Statistics at UW-Stevens Point and will continue to engage with the international wildlife community through his role on The Wildlife Society Council.  He looks forward to working with WCW staff to continue and expand upon existing WCW programming furthering our mission to engage students, professionals, and the public in wildlife science and conservation.