David Trauger, interim associate dean of the Graduate School in the National Capital Region, serves as academic leader to implement the vision and goals of the Graduate School in the region, and is the liaison with faculty and academic leadership in Blacksburg. Trauger is also director for Natural Resources Programs in the National Capital Region and holds the academic rank of professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences in the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources.

During his more than 40-year professional career, Trauger held faculty appointments at Iowa State University, led extensive field research at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the breeding biology and migrational ecology of diving ducks in Canada and the North Central States, and later served as chief for Wildlife Service in that organization. His past positions also include assistant center director at the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota, center director at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland, and senior staff biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. After 32 years of public service, Trauger retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in June 2001 to accept full-time academic appointment with Virginia Tech.

He has authored more than 70 scientific papers, technical reports, and popular articles. Trauger's awards and honors include the Conservation Award of Merit from the Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society and Fellow of the Geological Society of America for his work with strategic science planning. The Federally Employed Women organization recognized him in 1999 for his leadership in recruiting, mentoring, and promoting women and minorities at the Department of the Interior. In 2000, Trauger received the Department of the Interior's Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his contributions to wildlife research. Trauger also received the Diversity Award from the Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources in 2004, and the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation presented him the Chairman's Award for Professional Service in 2005.

Trauger received a B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management in 1964, an M.S. in Wildlife Biology in 1967, and a Ph.D. in Animal Ecology in 1971 from Iowa State University.

His memberships include The Wildlife Society, Society for Conservation Biology; American Fisheries Society, Society of American Foresters, Wildlife Management Institute, Natural Resources Council of America, Renewable Natural Resources Foundation, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Contact Information

E-mail: dtrauger@vt.edu

Office: (703) 538-3762