NWTF, Mississippi State University Establish New Wild Turkey Research Professorship

“Our newly created NWTF Distinguished Endowed Professorship at Mississippi State is the result of our dedicated state chapters, donors and national organization who pooled their resources to help create this monumental position,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “This new position is part of our broader 10-year strategic plan to establish a national network of regional NWTF endowed university professorships and programs focused solely on conducting coordinated wild turkey research in perpetuity. We are especially proud to have this position at Mississippi State, as the university is a dedicated leader in furthering natural resources conservation.”

The endowment will generate annual returns to supplement capacity and support research in applied wild turkey science.

“Restoration of the Eastern wild turkey is one of the great North American conservation success stories,” said Wes Burger, Ph.D., dean of the College of Forest Resources at MSU. “The National Wild Turkey Federation; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks; and Mississippi State University have been a part of that story for more than 50 years. This distinguished professorship in the College of Forest Resources, endowed by NWTF and supported with research grants from our long-term partners at MDWFP, will ensure that MSU will maintain a program of relevant, applied science and outreach focused on wild turkey conservation and management, in perpetuity.”

The NWTF Distinguished Endowed Professor will conduct, support and produce high-quality, peer-reviewed and publicly disseminated scientific research that directly benefits wild turkey populations. This position also will focus on addressing contemporary challenges faced by natural resource agencies, managers and private landowners, and advancing the shared goals of the NWTF and MSU.

“As we work to create a national network of endowed professors, we will advance the NWTF mission at partner universities across the country and help train and mentor the next generation of wild turkey conservationists, biologists and researchers,” said Patrick Wightman, Ph.D., NWTF national director of wild turkey research and science. “We will also provide direct support to endowed professors through shared data, consistent methodologies and collaborative platforms, overall creating sound, peer-reviewed deliverables for our state and federal agency partners. I am personally excited for this role at Mississippi State University and what it will accomplish for the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.”

As MSU prepares its search for a researcher to chair the role, the NWTF will participate in the interview process as a non-voting member of the search committee and will provide input for the position.

“Mississippi State’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture has long been recognized as a national leader in the applied science and management of game species,” said Andy Kouba, Ph.D., MSU Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture department head. “With endowed professorships and chairs already established in waterfowl, white-tailed deer, upland gamebirds and game habitat, this new NWTF professorship in wild turkey research strengthens that legacy. It reflects our deep commitment to advancing the science and management of species most important to hunters and land managers, fosters collaboration among the nation’s foremost wildlife researchers, and trains the next generation of professionals that will build careers focused on wild turkey management across their range.”

Jeff Little, senior director of development for the MSU Foundation, played a vital role in facilitating this landmark effort between the NWTF and the university. The announcement follows multiple recent research- and science-based milestones for the NWTF.

In January, Wightman joined the NWTF as the organization’s new national director of wild turkey research and science. Wightman’s appointment marked the first time since 1981 — with the hiring of James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D. — that the NWTF has dedicated a senior leadership role to oversee the organization's wild turkey research portfolio and scientific partnerships.

Additionally, in August of last year, the NWTF continued with its powerful wild turkey research investment strategy, allocating $503,618 among nine wild turkey research projects. Since 2022, the NWTF has invested over $2.3 million in specific wild turkey research projects, which, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations.

Last March, the NWTF helped establish wildturkeyDNA, a large-scale, collaborative research endeavor of wild turkey genetics seeking to gain a better understanding of the bird’s genetic makeup through hunter-harvested wild turkey DNA samples.

The MSU professorship builds on the NWTF’s first-ever wild turkey endowed professorship at the University of Georgia, where esteemed wild turkey researcher Mike Chamberlain, Ph.D., currently serves as the NWTF Distinguished Professor. Together, these positions represent the foundation of a growing national research network dedicated to the future of the wild turkey.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation 
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.