(Millbrook, NY) Dr. Joshua R. Ginsberg has been named the next President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; he will assume the position in September of 2014. Located in New York's Hudson Valley, the Cary Institute is one of the world's largest, most influential independent ecological research centers. Areas of expertise include freshwater ecosystems, disease ecology, invasive species, urban ecology, and biogeochemistry.
"We are thrilled at Dr. Joshua Ginsberg's appointment. He has been an inspiring leader at one of the world's most respected conservation organizations," commented Irene Banning, Chair of the Cary Institute's Board of Trustees. "His passion for science – and its essential role in improving the sustainability of our society – will help the Cary Institute continue its important work providing the science behind environmental solutions."
Dr. Ginsberg received his PhD from Princeton University and his B.S. from Yale University. His career in conservation science spans 35 years and several continents. During the 80s and 90s, he led ecology and conservation projects in Asia and East and Southern Africa. In 1996, he began his tenure with the Wildlife Conservation Society, taking on a series of senior management roles that benefitted from his scientific, fiscal, and administrative expertise.
"The Cary Institute counts among its staff some of the finest minds in ecosystem science. Their work has been instrumental in understanding and protecting the ecosystems that support life," Dr. Ginsberg remarked. "I look forward to building on the organization's 30-year track record of success, and bringing science to bear on the management of natural resources, biodiversity, and human health."
In Dr. Ginsberg's current post as Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs, he oversees initiatives in North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the marine environment – including fundraising and managing an 87 million dollar budget. As Director of Asia and Pacific Programs (1996–2004), he was responsible for projects in 17 Asian countries, and grew the program's budget five-fold in less than a decade. As Vice President of Conservation Operations (2004–2009), he managed the budget and operations of WCS's Global Program, evaluated programs across their portfolio, and co-led the program's strategic planning efforts.
"Josh Ginsberg has helped build the reach and impact of the Wildlife Conservation Society's global program for 18 years," said Dr. Cristian Samper, WCS President and CEO. "We will miss his strategic thinking and strong management. As he leaves to run the Cary Institute, we know we will find connections to continue working with him on a variety of ecological and biodiversity issues."
John Robinson, WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science, noted, "Josh Ginsberg has been a valued colleague for decades. His ability to integrate scientific knowledge with conservation practice is unparalleled. He leaves a legacy of accomplishment at the Wildlife Conservation Society. We look forward to following his continued success at the Cary Institute."
Throughout his career, Dr. Ginsberg has also been engaged in the academic research community. An adjunct professor at Columbia University since 1998, in addition to lecturing and advising graduate students, he helped manage Columbia's Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC). Past appointments include: Research Fellow in Ecology at the Zoological Society of London, Honorary Research Fellow and Lecturer at University College London, and Research Fellow at Oxford University.
Dr. Ginsberg is on the boards of the Open Space Institute and Catskill Mountainkeeper, and is a founding board member of the Blacksmith Institute, a not-for-profit that focuses on pollution remediation in the developing world. As an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Diplomacy Fellow, he has provided guidance on international conservation issues, including matters relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and African biodiversity.
The Cary Institute was founded in 1983 by eminent ecologist Dr. Gene E. Likens, a co-discoverer of acid rain. Dr. Ginsberg will succeed Dr. William H. Schlesinger as the organization's third president. During Dr. Schlesinger's transformative seven years of leadership, he reinforced the Cary Institute's institutional foundations, strengthened its commitment to outreach, improved private fundraising, and performed hires that enhanced expertise in disease ecology and freshwater science.
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is a private, independent, nonprofit environmental research organization located on 2,000-acres in New York's Hudson Valley. With a staff of more than 100, including 16 core scientists, it is a world-premier center for ecosystem science. Focal areas include freshwater ecosystems, disease ecology, invasive species, urban ecology, and biogeochemistry. The science program is complemented by the Cary Institute's renowned education, communication, and outreach initiatives. Learn more at www.caryinstitute.org