Mark Thurman
Director of Conservation Collaboration
Tennessee
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Biography
Mark Thurman serves as The Nature Conservancy's Director of Conservation Collaboration in Tennessee. In this role, he oversees the strategic leadership of conservation, science and stewardship initiatives within the state program and how all of it feeds into TNC's conservation efforts throughout the Southeast U.S. Mark possesses a wealth of over 30 years of experience in conservation, gained notably through his tenure at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and extensive expertise in managing substantial budgets and leading cohesive, multifaceted teams.
An ardent advocate for nature, Mark is an adept storyteller dedicated to bridging the connection between nature and people. His commitment is evident in his leadership of educational programs such as immersive snorkeling trips, where both urban youth and members of the conservation community witness firsthand Tennessee’s remarkable freshwater biodiversity.
Mark is from Spring City Tennessee, located an hour north of Chattanooga. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and a Master’s degree in Biology from Tennessee Tech. In his free time, Mark loves cycling, river trips, fly fishing and spending time with his wife Jenny and daughters Aasta and Ruby.