Judy Meyer  Lopez Island

Judy Meyer has a BS in zoology from the University of Michigan, an MS in oceanography from the University of Hawaii, and a PhD in ecology from Cornell University. She served on the faculty at the University of Georgia for three decades, doing research on rivers and streams and teaching about the ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Her research contributions were recognized with an Award of Excellence in Benthic Science from the Society for Freshwater Science and a lifetime achievement award from the International Society for Theoretical and Applied Limnology.

Judy has served on the Water Science and Technology Board and the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences. She currently serves on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board, on California’s Delta Independent Science Board, and on the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of American Rivers, a national river-conservation organization.

Judy and her family spent summers on Lopez for many years, and she and her husband, Gene Helfman, moved to Lopez in 2008 after retiring from their university careers. Judy says, “I am drawn to the beauty and ecological wonders of the San Juans and am eager to use my skills and experience to help sustain and protect this landscape. As an aquatic scientist, I am particularly sensitive to the growing threats to freshwater systems and recognize the critical role of land preservation in conserving both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.”