A groundbreaking new research center dedicated to advancing waterfowl and wetlands conservation was announced Monday at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). The Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence and the Dyke-Snowden Endowed Chair of Waterfowl and Wetlands aim to establish Arkansas as a national leader in waterfowl research, education, and conservation.
The announcement, held in partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, featured Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other state leaders. The creation of the center and endowed chair was made possible through $7 million in contributions from public and private donors.
Initial funding came from a $1 million state appropriation during the 2022 legislative session, matched by $1 million in private donations to create a $2 million endowment. Arkansas conservationist David Snowden and Dyke Industries Chairman Merritt Dyke led fundraising efforts, securing an additional $5 million in private support to establish the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence. Ducks Unlimited also contributed by funding an endowed professorship in wetlands and waterfowl conservation at UAM.
“This positions our campus to be a national leader in waterfowl research, education, and outreach,” said Dr. Michael Blazier, dean of UAM’s College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. “It’s a perfect fit for the duck hunting capital of the world.”
The Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence will operate as part of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center under the Division of Agriculture, with Dr. Douglas Osborne, professor of wildlife ecology, serving as its inaugural director and endowed chair.
Dr. Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture for the University of Arkansas System, credited Snowden and Dyke’s leadership for helping transform the state’s waterfowl industry. “Their vision, combined with the foundation Dr. Osborne has laid, will transform the waterfowl industry locally and nationally,” Fields said.
Osborne, who has led UAM’s waterfowl research program since 2012, emphasized the center’s national significance. “To my knowledge, our Snowden Waterfowl Center is the only ‘Center of Excellence’ designated to waterfowl in the country,” he said. “We’re going to use this for scholarships to recruit students from all over the country.”
Gov. Sanders highlighted the deep cultural and economic importance of waterfowl hunting in Arkansas, noting that hunters generate more than $300 million annually during the 72-day duck season. “Duck hunting is more than a sport — it’s part of who we are,” Sanders said. “This center ensures that the traditions we hold dear can be passed down for generations.”
University of Arkansas System President Jay B. Silveria said the center will expand Arkansas’ impact on global research and conservation. “This is going to strengthen Arkansas’ legacy as a hub for conservation and natural resource management,” he said.
UAM Chancellor Dr. Peggy Doss called the initiative “a national model” for collaboration and innovation. “This partnership unites research, education, and conservation to create opportunities for students and to protect Arkansas’ wetlands for generations to come,” she said.
Snowden shared his long-term vision for the center. “The Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence will not only attract the best and brightest students to UAM but also top educators and researchers,” he said. “It will be a sought-after destination for those passionate about wildlife and conservation.”
For more information about the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, contact Dr. Michael Blazier at [email protected] or (870) 460-1152, or Dr. Douglas Osborne at [email protected] or (870) 460-1448.
