Julie Thorstenson

Dr. Julie Thorstenson (Lakota) is the Executive Director for the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society.  She grew up on a cattle ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in North Central SD, where a love for the land and the environment was instilled in her.  Dr. Thorstenson earned a B.S., M.S. and PhD in biological sciences from South Dakota State University.  Her research focused on cottonwood site selection using GIS for riparian restoration and incorporating culture into ethics education for scientists and engineers.  Dr. Thorstenson has worked in Indian Country her entire career in various positions, including Wildlife Habitat Biologist and Health Department CEO for her tribe.  She currently lives on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota with her husband and three children.