Jamie Clark Oral History Transcript

Ms. Clark grew up as a military brat, the second of five children and describes herself as a shy, introverted child. She grew up in numerous locations around the world. Her childhood proved a love of the outdoors and of animals. She went to college initially in Connecticut and then transferred to Townson University and University of Maryland, College Park. She worked on projects involving the white-tailed deer. She also reintroduced peregrine falcons into the wild as a hack site attendant for Cornell University. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in wildlife ecology. She was the only woman in her graduate school class. She spent the first part of her profession working for the military. Ms. Clark joined the USFWS in the late 1980s. She was instrumental in working with endangered species and rebuilt the Endangered Species Division in Headquarters. She was the first SES woman at FWS and was first bureau director to be pregnant in its 150-year history. President Clinton appointed her Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1997 and she held this post until 2001. Ms. Clark stressed the importance of partnerships and people-centric conservation and was instrumental in the signing of the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act. Ms. Clark led Defenders of Wildlife as President and CEO where she promoted endangered species and habitat conservation, retiring in 2024.