Staff Highlight: Michael Dunmyer, Stewardship Specialist
Where were you before your time with ESLC?
I was fortunate to have lived the entirety of my childhood on the Eastern Shore, spending a great deal of my time playing with friends in the woods and growing alongside other boys through the Scouting program. Ironically, though, I grew up in a sprawl housing development carved out of a farm.
I went to University of Lynchburg in Virginia for undergrad, studying Environmental Studies and Political Science. I studied Public Policy at UMD College Park for graduate school, working on climate-compatible development strategies both domestically and in underserved countries. Aside from an existential fear of climate change, I pursued this field out of a need to pay forward the resources others gave in getting me this far.
How did you come to work for ESLC?
I had the opportunity to intern for two summers at ESLC during undergrad, working in a similar capacity that I am now. It was a fantastic way to see corners of the region that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and cemented my love for Delmarva. I continued to stay in touch with ESLC and volunteer through grad school, which helped keep position openings on my radar.
What is your favorite thing about ESLC?
Perpetuity provides an unmatched comfort when the region and the rest of the planet seem to be in a constant state of flux. Having a small hand in combatting encroachment on one of the few remaining wildlife hubs along the Northeast Corridor scratches an itch that I might not be able to satisfy in other lines of work.
What is your favorite thing about the Eastern Shore?
The humidity! Can you believe that there are people out there that enjoy thin, dry air?
If you were given a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Give it to my partner, Jen. Teachers are criminally underpaid, given how essential of a service education is.