Donna Shaver ’84 is known for her significant impact in the recovery and conservation of the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, bringing the species back from the brink of extinction. She currently leads the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery for the National Park Services at Padre Island National Seashore. Shaver earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in wildlife biology before attending Texas A&I University where she earned a master’s in biology and then went on to earn her Ph.D. in zoology from Texas A&M University in College Station.

 

Shaver’s work as a biologist and wildlife conservationist has been recognized by the New York Times, Washington Post, Texas Reporter, Texas Monthly and many more media outlets. She has received a number of awards including the International Sea Turtle Society Lifetime Achievement Award, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Endangered Species Recovery Champion Award and the National Park Service Director’s Award for Natural Resources Research - and countless others - for her work and prolific research in the conservation of sea turtles. Even after 30 years of research and achievement, Shaver’s lifelong mission continues to be the preservation of sea turtles.

 

Click on the names below of the honorees to read their respective bio:

 

Carmen Lomas Garza '72

David Allex '58

Jose Luis Cortez '60, '61

Angelica Barrera '00, '01

Robert Montoya '70

 

Robert Ray Molina, Jr. '17