Congratulations to Stan Gehrt!

Dr. Stan Gehrt is a Professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University. During he career he has influenced many aspiring wildlife professionals within the State of Ohio as an Associate Professor (2009-2016) and Professor (2016- present) at The Ohio State University, where he served as advisor to 22 graduate students in addition to the undergraduates enrolled in wildlife programs at OSU, with serval of those graduate research projects occurring within the State of Ohio. Dr. Gehrt serves or has served on graduate student committees for 11 other universities.

Dr. Gehrt’s contributions to the scientific community includes 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, 19 extensions or non-peer reviewed publications, 12 book chapters, and 2 books. In addition to written contributions, he has co-organized 6 urban carnivore or wildlife symposia and has authored or co-authored over 150 presentational conferences regionally, nationally and internationally. His outreach extends beyond professional circles with his frequent responses to media requests and contributions to radio, and tv programming (PBS, NBC, National Geographic, CBC ABC, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel).

Awards

One of OWMA’s objectives is to present an Annual Achievement Award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to wildlife research and management in Ohio. The Award is presented to an active OWMA member who has made an outstanding contribution to wildlife management in any of the following areas:

  • Writing technical or popular papers on wildlife management in journals or magazines.
  • Writing or developing newspaper articles or columns, drawings, motion pictures, paintings, photographs, books, bulletins, pamphlets, or radio and TV scripts.
  • Development of new equipment or techniques.
  • Development of new and successful game or fish management techniques in the wild or at fish and game hatcheries.
  • Active and proven conservation-education programs for youth and/or the general public.
  • Exceptional performance of duties in wildlife administration or education.

The Award may also be presented for a specific accomplishment or for consistent and noteworthy career performance.

Anyone may make a nomination for the Annual Achievement Award. To submit a nomination, send an email to OWMA.Secretary@gmail.com. Please include the nominee’s full name and affiliation, along with a contact address and phone number. In order for the nominee to receive a full review, you should also include a list of their career and/or academic accomplishments and a brief justification explaining how they meet one or more of the criteria listed above.

Past Award Recipients

2026: Dr. Stan Gehrt, Professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University

2025: Harvey Webster, Retired Cleveland Museum of Natural History Chief Wildlife Officer and Ambassador Emeritus

2024: Jonathon Cepek, Wildlife Ecologist, Cleveland Metro Parks

2023: Dr. Robert J. Gates, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, The Ohio State University

2022:  Lori Stevenson

2021: Mark DeBrock

2020: David Sherman

2019: Dr. Mike Tonkovich

2018: Allen Lea, Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor, Ohio Division of Wildlife

2017: Mike Zaleski

2016: Heidi Devine, Private Lands Biologist, Ohio Division of Wildlife

2015: Dan McMillen, Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor, Ohio Division of Wildlife 

2014: Roger Knight,

2013: Gary Ludwig, Wildlife Management Supervisor, Ohio Division of Wildlife

2012: Jim Kerr

2011: Dan Huss,

2010: Carolyn Caldwell

2009: Alan Dieter, Wildlife Area Supervisor, Ohio Division of Wildlife

2008: Steve Gray, Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife

2007: Tom Henry, Assistant Wildlife Management Supervisor, Ohio Division of Wildlife

2006: No Recipient

2005: No Recipient

2004: Prof. Tom Stockdale, Professor Emeritus, University Extension and School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University

2003: Mike Budzik, Chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife

2002: Gene Whitten

2001: Brian Armitage

2000: Steve Wilcox

1999: Dave Scott

1998: Gary Isbell