Romey Swanson Officially Joins The Devils River Conservancy As Executive Director
AUSTIN, TEXAS [MARCH 2, 2023] – The Devils River Conservancy (DRC) board of directors is pleased to announce that Romey Swanson has officially been named executive director, leading the organization of advocates dedicated to treasure, preserve and protect the Devils River, its springs, and the lands within its water catchment area.
Swanson currently serves as the Director of Conservation Strategy at Audubon Texas, the regional office of the National Audubon Society whose mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.
“I consider it a privilege to join the Devils River Conservancy in service of the myriad cultural and conservation values it seeks to nurture, steward, and preserve,” said Swanson. “From the moment I first swam in its rejuvenating waters, I understood the Devils is a treasure to be cherished and protected.”
The executive director search committee included current DRC President Alice Ball Strunk, and DRC board members: Jim Norman, Randy Nunns, and Robert Potts.
“The DRC is thrilled that Romey, a certified Wildlife Biologist, has accepted our offer to lead us into our thirteenth year as an organization,” said Alice Ball Strunk, DRC president. “He is a man who wears many different hats so we are happy that he will now wear one of ours.”
With Audubon Texas, most recently, Swanson has elevated and expanded strategic thinking among public-private partnerships aimed at affecting meaningful scales of conservation on behalf of both birds and people. His experience as a working lands ecologist coupled with his expertise in natural resource management encouraged deeper collaborations among the community of conservation practice – particularly among Texas’ diverse working lands. Swanson has also worked to successfully develop market-based approaches in both grassland and water conservation.
“Romey brings years of experience of working with ranchers and other private landowners to improve the health and productivity of their land and water. The Devils River Conservancy is fortunate to have someone with Romey’s experience, knowledge and energy leading us to the next level of effectiveness as an organization,” said Robert Potts, DRC board member. “ The Devils River — and all who depend on the river and love the river – will benefit.”
Swanson is a graduate of Texas State University with a Master of Science (MS) focused in Wildlife Ecology. He is skilled in Wildlife Management, ArcGIS, environmental policy and law and data collection. As a certified Wildlife Biologist, he has served as the past president of The WildLife Society – Texas Chapter, and is actively involved with the Texas Land Trust community, formerly serving as Conservation Program Manager with Hill Country Conservancy from 2015 to 2018.
Swanson was also appointed to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council by Governor Abbott in 2021 and currently serves on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee and the newly formed Mountain Lion Stakeholder Working Group as well as the Wildlife Conservation Committee of the Texas Wildlife Association. He is a current Board Member of the Texas Ornithological Society and has been appointed to the Texas Tech University Llano River Field Station Advisory Board. Romey also contributed to the production of Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Film as Lead Science Consultant.
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ABOUT THE DEVILS RIVER CONSERVANCY
The Devils River Conservancy, a 501 (c)3 organization committed to treasuring, preserving, and protecting the Devils River, its springs, and the lands within its water catchment area. The Devils River is a place many consider to be the last pristine river in Texas. Through education, research and advocacy, the DRC is on a mission to ensure the river's clean, clear waters and springs will continue to flow according to their historical and natural regimes. To learn more about the Devils River Conservancy, visit www.devilsriverconservancy.org