Margaret H. Murphy
Background
My strong commitment to AFS and fisheries has been shaped by both my professional and personal experiences. I grew up spending summers and weekends throughout the year at my parents’ camp in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. My grandmother taught me how to fish at a young age; most days at camp I could be found with a fishing pole or hunting for worms in the woods. My dad taught me how to clean a fish – and I used this as an opportunity to learn fish biology as well. I received my B.S. in biology from Siena College in 1988, and my Masters (1991) and Ph.D. (2003) in Fisheries Biology fromthe State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).
Currently, I amemployed at Anchor QEA. I enjoy working with engineers and feel that I bring valuable viewpoints to numerous engineering projects. Developing restoration plans for contaminated sites involves understanding engineering needs while creating viable aquatic habitats following remediation. These projects are a give and take between designs and ecological processes and I try to impress upon team members the importance of retaining a functioning ecosystem.
I have numerous presentations and have helped organize several symposia at all levels within AFS. I served as an appointed member of my town Conservation Commission from 1998-2008 and Scientific Advisor for the Atlantic Salmon Fish Creek Club (local club trying to restore Atlantic salmon in central NY) from 1999-2007. I am currently a board memberand chair of the water quality committee for the Fulton Chain of Lakes Association dealing with water issues on these lakes in the central Adirondack Mountains. My experienceshave provided me with a useful vantage point for an AFS President – from local and regional conservation challenges, to interactions with industry and government agencies related to fisheries issues, mentoring, and engaging youth in understanding fisheries and their value.
AFS Service
I began my service in AFS essentially the day I joined and have served in some capacity ever since. I served as President of both the SUNY-ESF (1990-1991) and New York Chapters (1998-1999) and as the first advisor to the NY Student subunit from 1998 to 2002. I was raffle chairperson (1997, 2000) and Program Chair for the NY Chapter in 2002. As President of the Northeastern Division (2005-2006), I served on the Governing Board (2004-2006) and Management Committee (2004-2006). I served as Student Activities Chair for the AFS 2006 meeting in Lake Placid. I was co-chair for the Outstanding Chapter Award Committee in 2006-2007 and chair of the Award of Excellence Committee in 2007-2009. I was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee from 2008-2009 and the Meritorious Service Committee in 2010. I have been a Certified Fisheries Professional since 1997.
Vision
The connections I have developed with AFS members around the country are invaluable. One of my visions is for AFS to continue to help people make these connections. There are numerous careers available to fisheries scientists today that are more diverse than in the past and communication among us is critical. Our interests are varied with members in academia, government, NGOs, and the private sector. We need to maintain this diversity and develop ways for all members to connect and feel like they truly belong as well as contribute to the success of AFS.
Improvements can be made reaching out to underrepresented groups; AFS needs to continue to reach out and understand the services these groups require to increase the balance in AFS. Rarely has an AFS Officer come from the private sector. I would bring this valuable perspective to the AFS leadership, and commit to working on issues of expanding and diversifying the membership of AFS.
Students are the future of AFS and I wantto continue developing services for and incorporating them in the leadership of the organization. When I joined AFS, I became active in leadership and started developing my network of colleagues. It’s amazing to look back on those early New York Chapter meetings and the many strange faces. Over the years, the faces became familiar to me as I was introduced to more people at each meeting. I believe it is important for students to get involved and take an active role in the society at all levels. It is our job as professionals to help students understand the importance of establishing connections early in their careers and taking an active role in their future. The leadership positions that I have held in AFS are testimony to the strength of my commitment to advance opportunities in these areas.
AFS has been facing, and will continue to face, challenging and exciting issues. As we become adapted to our “flat” world, the opportunities to teach and learn from our colleagues around the world will expand. AFS has been at the forefront of some of the critical issues facing natural resources today. We have the opportunity to increase public understanding of the value of fisheries and to foster sound stewardship of the aquatic systems. I think it is important to continue evaluating these issues and developing policy statements or resolutions to help guide government officials and inform legislation. Input from the various units within AFS will be critical to helping develop these statements. This will help ensure our role as credible scientific experts and maintain or raise the status of AFS as a valuable leader. Additionally, we need to continue to evaluate and offer a variety of learning opportunities for our membership including workshops, webinars, and meetings (both online and in person).
I am excited and honored at the opportunity to serve the AFS membership. If elected, I will strive to maintain connections with all members and encourage new memberships from underrepresented groups as well as foster new relationships with other groups. I look forward to working with the Governing Board and Executive Director to maintain our credibility as experts in all aspects of fishery science.