St. Edward's University & Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve Announce New Board of Directors

(Austin, TX) -- St. Edward’s University and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve announce the appointment of a newly-formed board of directors.

On June 18, 2008, St. Edward’s University and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve conducted the first board meeting after formalizing their affiliation in April this year. The two organizations affiliated to create an interdisciplinary natural resource laboratory that will provide research and hands-on learning for all St. Edward’s academic schools. The new relationship affords both organizations the opportunity to expand the reach of their missions.

New Board of Directors:

John C. Abbott, Curator of Entomology - Texas Natural Science Center, Professor of Entomology and Biology — University of Texas at Austin

Charles Bicak, Dean, School of Natural Sciences — St. Edward’s University

Rhonda Cartwright, Vice President for Financial Affairs — St. Edward’s University

Sally Davenport, Deputy Director Coastal Management — Coastal Technology Corporation

Joe DeMedeiros, Director of Development for University Advancement — St. Edward’s University

Mischelle R. Diaz, Director of Communications — St. Edward’s University

Carol Dwyer, Director of Business Development — Austin Technology Council

Linda Edwards, Principle - Edwards on Business and
Program Manager — Computer Sciences Corporation

Allan Hook, Professor of Entomology — St. Edward's University

Flo Macklin, Founder — Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Robert Manzer, Vice President for Academic Affairs — St. Edward’s University          

Ed McHorse, Shareholder — Graves Dougherty Hearon Moody

Brenda Vallance, Dean, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences — St. Edward’s University  

Prior to the affiliation, the nonprofit organization that operated the Preserve was The Committee for Wild Basin Wilderness. Changes to the nonprofit include:

• Appointment of new board members by St. Edward’s
• St. Edward’s will provide management expertise, academic experience, recommendations on marketing, fundraising, operations and financial affairs.

St. Edward’s University
Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University has been named as one of America's Best Colleges for 2008 by U.S. News & World Reportand was selected by The Princeton Review for inclusion in the guide Colleges with a Conscience. St. Edward's is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university of more than 5,200 students located in Austin, Texas. For more information on St. Edward’s University, visit www.stedwards.edu.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve 
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve was founded in 1974 to protect 227 acres of Texas Hill Country. The mission of Wild Basin is to protect and maintain the wilderness preserve, encourage and support environmental research, and provide environmental education. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is located at 805 N. Capitol of Texas Hwy. in Austin, Texas.

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