Northland College is proud to announce that Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings, associate director of the Northland College Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute and a HEAL Earth Partnership doctoral fellow, has been appointed to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board by Governor Tony Evers.
Jennings, a citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, brings a wealth of expertise to the board, including his extensive knowledge of environmental policy and experience as a former elected council member for the Tribe. He is a staunch advocate for education, language preservation, and environmental protection through reciprocity. Jennings has also been recognized for his contributions to the community, receiving the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s “40 under 40” Award and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute’s Rising Star Alumni Award.
As a member of the Natural Resources Board, Jennings will oversee policies pertaining to the environment, from managing the state’s wolf population to regulating “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, in the state’s water supply. He will be a strong voice for environmental protection and will work to prioritize the state’s water quality.
“We are proud to have Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings as a member of our community and for the expertise and perspectives he will bring to this critically important work,” said Chad Dayton, president of Northland College.
Jennings’ appointment is subject to approval by the GOP-controlled state Senate, though he does not need Senate confirmation to join the board.