Eric W. Kurzejeski

Instructor and Program Director

Natural Resource Agencies and Diversity Programs

Contact Information

Email kurzejeskie@missouri.edu
Phone 573-882-2187
Address 303-I Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building
Contact

Education

  • M.S., 1979, Wildlife, University of Missouri
  • B.S., 1977, University of Missouri, Fisheries and Wildlife

Experience

Thirty year career with Missouri Department of Conservation as researcher, administrator and outreach programs chief.

  • Outreach Programs Chief, Missouri Department of Conservation, January 2004-December 2009
  • Wildlife Research Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation, January 1999-December 2004
  • Wildlife Research Biologist (wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, forest ecology, agricultural systems), Missouri Department of Conservation, August 1985-December 1998
  • Wildlife Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation, January 1979-July 1985

As a Wildlife Research Biologist Mr. Kurzejeski has significant experience in designing and conducting research, often working closely with collaborators at the University of Missouri. His research included work on population dynamics of galliforms; impacts of Federal Farm programs on plant and animal species; influences of forest management on terrestrial and aquatic systems; and measuring the attitudes and preferences of resource user groups. During his career with the Department of Conservation his work involved both the biological and social sides of natural resource management. He led many agency-wide communication efforts aimed at gleaning public input from Missouri citizens. He supervised staff responsible for the development of hunting regulations and worked closely with all aspects of regulatory process.

As Outreach Programs Chief he was responsible for oversight on a diverse array of communication venues. These included the Conservationist magazine, which is distributed monthly to over 500,000 Missouri households and efforts to significantly expand web-based communications and services.

Current Program Focus

  • Establishing educational linkages for students that provide exposure to current conservation issues within natural resource agencies
  • Cultivating opportunities for natural resource professionals to share their experience with students both in classroom and field settings
  • Developing opportunities for natural resource professionals to serve as student mentors
  • Developing sustainable mechanisms for recruiting students from diverse backgrounds into natural resource programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
  • Serving as liaison to the Missouri Department of Conservation and assisting with recruiting applicants for summer internships, temporary and salaried positions.

Student Organizations

  • Advisor: Missouri Student Chapter, The Wildlife Society

Teaching

  • Teaching: Wildlife Management Techniques FW 4700