Educating Tomorrow’s Conservation Leaders: Douglas and Tiffany Osborne

Douglas and Tiffany Osborne are professors at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. These long-tenured educators have an abiding passion for ensuring that the next generation of conservation leaders is ready to meet the challenges of the future.

Tiffany teaches wildlife habitat management, natural resource ecology and conservation, and dendrology. She also delivers 4-H wildlife programs and serves as an advisor for the collegiate chapter of The Wildlife Society. Douglas teaches classes in wetland ecology, waterfowl management, science writing, and conservation decision-making. By sharing their knowledge, mentoring, and providing hands-on opportunities, they ensure that every student leaves the classroom with a better respect for the natural environment. Five of their previous students work for Ducks Unlimited, which is a testament to the Osbornes’ passion for the future of conservation.

Douglas’s enthusiasm for wildlife and the outdoors began in his early years, while hunting ducks on the Mississippi River and pheasants in central Illinois. He found his calling during his first internship, where he worked with Lucas Savoy—a biologist studying waterbirds in Maine. This hands-on experience sealed the deal, and Douglas knew from that point on that research was his calling.

Tiffany’s passion for the natural world began as a child growing up in rural western Pennsylvania. She loved bird-watching with her grandparents and exploring the Eastern deciduous forest and a backyard creek. She enriched her love for wildlife and the environment while in college, sampling water quality on Lake Erie and conducting bird surveys at Presque Isle State Park. Her first experience as a wildlife educator was on a remote conservation reserve in South Georgia, where she taught outdoor education to youth. In New Hampshire, she studied common loons in wilderness areas where the population of moose exceeded that of people. In 2021, Tiffany created the Wonders of Waterfowl Workshop to increase exposure of Arkansas 4-H students to waterfowl and wetlands conservation.

In 2014 Douglas established a research program that uses tiny backpack transmitters to monitor movements of wintering mallards. He and his team of researchers have collected valuable data that show a high level of winter site fidelity among mallards in the region. The goal of the research is to use applied science to understand the factors that may be affecting migration patterns and distribution of ducks in the flyway. This information will inform management and policy decisions and improve opportunities for hunters. He hopes to use science to bridge the communication gap between hunters and the science community so that we all have a better understanding of our wetland and waterfowl resources.

As Ducks Unlimited Life Sponsors and long-time volunteers, Douglas and Tiffany support habitat conservation work in Arkansas. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, traveling, and beekeeping. Tiffany loves to garden, while Douglas takes time for woodworking projects and duck hunting. They have a daughter, Aurora, whose name was inspired by the northern lights.

 The Osbornes know that the end goal for their students is not just a degree; it’s a career that has a positive impact on our natural resources. “At the end of the day, I will count my success by how many of our students are working for wildlife agencies or organizations such as Ducks Unlimited,” Douglas says. The future of wetlands and waterfowl is bright, thanks to people like the Osbornes.