Mary Lou Addor

Director, Natural Resources Leadership Institute

Current and Past titles:

  • Leadership and Organizational Development Specialist
  • Director, Natural Resources Leadership Institute
  • North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at North Carolina State University
  • Strategic Planning for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program, 2004

Please briefly describe your current position, roles & responsibilities, and/or research.

Part of my role and responsibility is as the Director of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI).  A multifaceted instructional and policy institute, the NRLI is composed of four programs: Leadership Development, Environmental Decision-Making, Needs-Based Training, and Research. The mission of the Institute is to educate and support a diverse group of North Carolinians who are committed to seeking consensus on issues affecting the sustainable development of North Carolina's natural resources and the quality of our environment. The NRLI is a national award-winning institute of NC State Extension and a leader in environmental and participatory decision-making and leadership development.

How have you have been involved with APNEP, present or past?  

A number of APNEP staff through the years have become fellows of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute by participating in the leadership development program, including Dr. Bill Crowell, APNEP Director. One of the NRLI projects in 2004 was Strategic Planning for the Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Program. The Strategic Assessment involved gathering perceptions about the APNEP structure and implementation processes from the five Regional Councils, the Coordinating Council, APNEP staff, and other non-council stakeholders. The Assessment Team interviewed as many stakeholders as possible to identify current strengths and weaknesses, emerging and priority issues, and opportunities to help guide the program to improve its effectiveness. The results were recommendations to APNEP leadership with respect to overall communication strategies, processes to support Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) Implementation Tracking, representation on APNEP bodies, Public Participation methods of outreach, and the role of APNEP as a facilitator.

Tell us how your work, organization, or research has contributed to our collective mission of identifying, protecting, and restoring the significant resources of the Albemarle-Pamlico system.

In addition to the work done for the strategic assessment, faculty of the NRLI have served in committee roles from time to time.  Other fellows of the NRLI have also contributed to the development of APNEP. Suzanne Klimek with the NC Division of Water Quality (1997), developed the following practicum report: Formation of Albemarle-Pamlico Regional Councils. Natural Resources Leadership Project in partnership with the NC Division of Water Quality.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your involvement with APNEP?

APNEP has had a long and successful history with North Carolina (and Virginia).  I believe its success is due to the number of people involved, that leadership in APNEP IS partnership – partnership in education, research, monitoring, and implementation.

Learn more about Dr. Addor and the NRLI on the NCSU website.  

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