In 2017, the Boone and Crockett Club began raising a $4 million endowment for the Boone and Crockett Dr. Red Duke Wildlife Conservation and Policy Program. The program was named in honor of the club’s former president and Aggie, Dr. Red Duke ’50.
The program’s mission is to support the education of future policymakers in conservation and wildlife management.
“Red is part of the reason we chose to invest our resources at Texas A&M, but our members are also impressed with the Aggie culture,” said Jayar Daily, 25-year Boone and Crockett member, “which produces students with a strong sense of responsibility, leadership and public service who want to develop solutions to real-world problems.”
Aggies and conservationists have joined the Boone and Crockett Club in supporting this program and its mission. Monty Davis, Becky Davis, Tina Field, Molly Malone and Ken Savage have generously supported the program.
Dr. Perry Barboza serves as a Professor and Boone & Crockett Chair of Wildlife Conservation and Policy. Dr. Barboza works directly with members of the Boone & Crockett Club and other donors to guide the Wildlife Science to Policy program. Dr. Barboza works with both undergraduates (B.S.) and graduates (M.S. & Ph.D.) in the wildlife sciences as well as graduates (MPSA) at the Bush School by teaching courses and workshops and mentoring research.
The mission of the Boone and Crockett Program is to build a pipeline between scientists and policymakers in wildlife conservation. The program connects science to policy issues by preparing scientists to work with policymakers and also connects policy with science by preparing policy professionals to work with scientists on issues of conservation and management of wildlife.
The Red Duke endowment is used to support students by providing stipends, tuition, and travel to participate in professional meetings and to conduct research on wildlife science and policy.