51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú

Michelle Parker is Vice President & Executive Director of 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Great Lakes. In this role, Parker oversees the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Great Lakes staff in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, leading 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú's field offices and directing on-the-ground conservation, policy, and education efforts across the region.

Prior to joining 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Great Lakes, Parker spent nearly two decades as a conservation leader in the Great Lakes region. Most recently, she led the environmental and disaster response programs with the Crown Family Philanthropies. Additionally, Parker spent 12 years leading  Shedd Aquarium's Great Lakes Initiative in the role of Vice President of Great Lakes and Sustainability. 

Parker previously served on boards at Freshwater Future and Calumet Collaborative. Parker is an Observer for the binational Great Lakes Commission, on the Nominating Committee for the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Conservation and Policy Council, and was appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker as a Commissioner on the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and currently serves as the Chair.  Parker is also the newest member of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library Board of Trustees. Parker holds a Masters in Zoology from Miami University, and a BS in Conservation Biology from University of Wisconsin-Madison.