Matthew Shumar has been elected to serve as President of the Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO). Shumar is the program coordinator for the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, where he works closely with other members of the Terrestrial Wildlife Ecology Lab in the School of Environment and Natural Resources and provides leadership for programs such as Ohio Lights Out.
AFO is one of the world’s major societies of professional and avocational ornithologists dedicated to the scientific study and dissemination of information about birds in their natural habitats since 1922. As president, Shumar seeks to “advance the connectivity and engagement of researchers across the Americas and support conservation of birds across their full annual cycle.”
Through multiple grants and awards programs, AFO supports field researchers at all stages of their careers. Each year, AFO awards 10-15 grants to researchers across the Americas for studies on the natural history and conservation of birds. AFO has also been part of a larger NSF-funded study to understand how to build more diverse and inclusive scientific communities.
Shumar’s involvement in AFO spans years and roles – he was first elected to serve on council for eight years then elected to serve a two-year term as Vice President from 2022 to 2024. Shumar credits Paul Rodewald, an ornithologist, and former faculty member in the School of Environment and Natural Resources on influencing his participation in AFO. “Paul served in leadership roles in AFO and encouraged my early engagement – starting with serving on council.” The pair are co-editors of The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio.