ESA Living Past Presidents
The Governing Board of ESA established the Past Presidents 2015 Committee in 2011, with Jean Langenheim as Chair, to assist in preparations for the Centennial.
One of their major projects was this timeline. It covers the terms of living past presidents from 1968 to 2014, but includes photos of the deceased presidents within this time frame. Each living president was asked to provide a photo of their choice and to encapsulate in a brief statement what they consider to be the most significant accomplishment or event during their tenure in office. In a separate document the presidents were asked to reflect on other important events, positive and/or negative, during their presidency. The form of their responses varied but are available here as “their stories.” These reflections from living past presidents contribute a special perspective for understanding actions of leaders of the Society and changes in viewpoints over the years. (Click "Find out more" to access these reflections.);xNLx;;xNLx;This timeline has been prepared with assistance from Sally White, Chair of the Website Subcommittee for the Historical Records Committee.;xNLx;
1967-08-01 00:00:00
Early ESA Presidents
Presidents before 1968 are reviewed in a separate timeline.
1968-08-01 00:00:00
John Edward Cantlon
Ecology bridges humanity to sustainable environment
1969-08-01 00:00:00
Edward Smith Deevey Jr.
December 3, 1914 - November 29, 1988
1970-08-01 00:00:00
Frederick Herbert Bormann
Involving ESA in environmental policy and education
1971-08-01 00:00:00
Stanley Irving Auerbach
May 21, 1921 - May 1, 2004
1972-08-01 00:00:00
Robert Baxter Platt
January 19, 1913 - March 11, 1998
1973-08-01 19:34:05
Frederick Edward Smith
July 23, 1920 - April 14, 2012
1974-08-01 19:34:05
Richard Samuel Miller
July 24, 1922 - October 12, 1990
1975-08-01 11:51:27
Forest Walden Stearns
September 10, 1918 - September 8, 1999
1976-08-01 19:34:05
Frank Benjamin Golley
September 24, 1930 -October 8, 2006
1977-08-01 19:34:05
George Masters Woodwell
Ecologists Rise to Support Environment Laws
1978-08-01 17:34:33
William Dwight Billings
December 29, 1910 - January 4, 1997
1979-08-01 00:00:00
Robert Treat Paine
Initiated funding for MacArthur Award
1980-08-01 00:00:00
Arthur Wells Cooper
Call for action on Washington Public Affairs office
1981-08-01 00:00:00
Gene Elden Likens
Washington Public Affairs Office approved
1982-08-01 00:00:00
Lawrence Carroll Bliss
Washington Public Affairs Office placed in operation
1983-08-01 19:34:05
Francis Cope Evans
December 2, 1914 - August 16, 2002
1984-08-01 00:00:00
Paul Gillan Risser
Ecological literacy
1985-08-01 00:00:00
Richard Bruce Root
Unity in diversity of ecological knowledge
1986-08-01 00:00:00
Jean Harmon Langenheim
Recognition of women ecologists
1987-08-03 02:00:17
Margaret Bryan Davis
Established Education Section
1988-08-01 03:02:37
Harold A. Mooney
Initiated Sustainable Biosphere Initiative (SBI) process & publication of Ecological Applications approved
1989-08-01 00:00:00
Dennis Hal Knight
75th Anniversary endowment
1990-08-01 00:00:00
Simon Asher Levin
Fostered SBI and launched Ecological Applications
1991-08-01 00:00:00
H. Ronald Pulliam
Engaging ESA in public policy
1992-08-01 19:34:05
Jane Lubchenco
Sustainable Biosphere Initiative
1993-08-01 00:00:00
Jerry Forest Franklin
Planning and implementing change in ESA organizational structure
1994-08-01 00:00:00
Judy Lynn Meyer
Consolidating ESA offices in Washington DC and starting an ESA homepage
1995-08-01 07:00:54
Gordon Howell Orians
Operational improvements in Washington Executive Office
1996-08-06 15:45:47
James Hemphill Brown
Hiring Katherine McCarter
1997-08-01 00:00:00
James A. MacMahon
Getting us rebalanced for a financially safe future
1998-08-01 13:03:23
Katherine Lynn Gross
Continued transition: focus on publications
1999-08-01 13:03:23
Diana Harrison Wall
Positioning ESA as an Environmental Resource
2000-08-01 05:22:55
Stephen Russell Carpenter
Funding for publication initiatives
2001-08-01 03:51:16
Pamela Anne Matson
Developed Frontiers in Ecology & Environment & Visions Initiative
2002-08-01 13:03:23
Ann Marie Bartuska
Strengthening the role of non-academic ecologists in ESA
2003-08-01 15:20:47
William Harrison Schlesinger
Launching Annual fund for Millennium
2004-08-01 12:30:14
Jerry Michael Melillo
Championed engagement of ecologists in global change issues
2005-08-01 12:30:14
Nancy Beth Grimm
Promoting diversity in our science and our membership
2006-08-01 16:40:28
Alan Paul Covich
Expanding our regional, national and international outreach
2007-08-01 05:22:55
Norman LeRoy Christensen, Jr.
Regularizing ESA finances and budget
2008-08-01 19:34:05
Alison Gail Power
Long-range planning initiative
2009-08-01 12:30:14
Mary Eleanor Power
Launched Earth Stewardship Initiative
2010-08-01 12:30:14
F Stuart Chapin III
Advanced the Earth Stewardship Initiative
2011-08-01 12:30:14
Steward T.A. Pickett
Continuing Earth Stewardship: Next Generation Committee
2012-08-01 02:31:48
Scott Collins
Dealing with open access publishing
2013-08-01 02:31:48
Jill Baron
First Earth Stewardship Demonstration Project
2014-08-01 02:31:48
David Inouye
Moving ESA Journals to a New Publisher
2015-08-01 00:00:00
Monica Turner
Strengthening Membership, Adapting to Change
2016-08-01 03:44:46
David Lodge