The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Gina Hancock has been named State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, following a three-month-long national search that included internal and external candidates.

“We had a thorough search process that looked at some outstanding conservation professionals,” said Henry Doggrell, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  “It soon became clear to us that Gina Hancock was the very best candidate for the Tennessee State Director job. Her leadership skills, experience and deep understanding of Tennessee’s conservation needs make Gina the right choice to lead The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee going forward.”

 Hancock, who has worked for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee since 2000 and previously served as Associate State Director, succeeds Scott Davis, who had been State Director in Tennessee since 2000. Davis was promoted in March to become Director of Conservation Programs for the Conservancy’s Central Division in North America.

“I was really pleased to hear of Gina’s appointment,” said Scott Davis.  “As someone who has worked hard to move the Conservancy’s mission in Tennessee forward, it is nice to know my successor is as smart, strategic and hardworking as Gina. She is just the kind of person The Nature Conservancy needs to take our work in Tennessee to the next level.”

As Associate State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, Hancock oversaw conservation programs across the state, managed multi-million dollar conservation grants and supervised the entire Tennessee staff. In 2007, she served as the Conservancy’s team lead for the Connecting the Cumberlands project—the Conservancy’s largest land-protection success in Tennessee. In fact, it was also the largest overall land-protection success in Tennessee since the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934.

“Working for The Nature Conservancy these past 11 years has been deeply rewarding,” said Hancock. “I’m humbled that the Conservancy and our Tennessee board have chosen me to lead the Conservancy’s crucial conservation work in Tennessee. We live in an incredibly beautiful state that is still more than 50 percent forested and boasts the richest variety of plants and animals of any inland state. It’s our duty to make sure Tennessee always remains a special place for future generations.”

Hancock joined The Nature Conservancy in 2000 as Director of Communications. Prior to joining the Conservancy, she worked in corporate communications and was managing editor for three newspapers. She is a graduate of Murray State University with a B.A. in Journalism.

The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 270,000 acres in Tennessee, and has either created or expanded 29 State Natural Areas, 10 Wildlife Management Areas and 2 National Wildlife Refuges in Tennessee since the Tennessee Chapter was established in 1978. The Nature Conservancy works across the entire state of Tennessee, with offices in Nashville, Knoxville, Columbia, Cookeville, Gainesboro, Sardis and Shady Valley.