Haleigh Summers Accepted into an International Conservation Leader Program
September 20, 2024
Dr. Haleigh Summers has been accepted into the 2025 class of the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s (SWCS) Emerging Leaders Program.
Summers is an Agricultural Geospatial Data Scientist for Sand County Foundation, a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of agriculture and environmental improvement. She uses soil and water data and geospatial models to quantify the impact of Sand County Foundation’s conservation projects.
Recognized as the premier international organization for professionals shaping the future of natural resource conservation, SWCS has chosen Summers for her outstanding commitment to the science and art of conservation. She will join a group of up-and-coming leaders in conservation that are spread across several countries and disciplines.
“Haleigh exemplifies the characteristics of an emerging leader. Working with someone who can naturally integrate their passion and interests into their projects and inspire others to engage is a true pleasure,” said Heidi Peterson, Sand County Foundation’s Vice President of Agricultural Research and Conservation.
SWCS’s CEO Clare Lindahl created the program after reflecting on her own leadership journey. “I was looking back at my career and thinking about things that would have helped me be a better leader, what mistakes I made and what really worked well,” said Lindahl. “It just made sense to create a way to help the next generation of leaders in conservation practice and advocacy by providing them with tools, resources and opportunities to learn and mature their individual leadership styles.”
Summers obtained her Ph.D. in Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Science at Iowa State University. She serves as the treasurer of the Iowa Farmers Union. Her acceptance into the SWCS Emerging Leaders Program not only underscores her exceptional contributions to conservation but also positions her as a dynamic force shaping the future of our community’s conservation efforts.
More information about the SWCS Emerging Leaders Program is available at www.swcs.org/growconservation.
ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners to ethically care for the land so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil, and plentiful wildlife habitat. www.sandcountyfoundation.org
ABOUT SWCS
For 80 years, the Soil and Water Conservation Society has been the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation. We believe sustainable land and water management is essential to the continued security of the earth and its people. Our goal is to cultivate an organization of informed, dynamic individuals whose contributions create a bright future for agriculture, the environment, and society. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with chapters across the United States and Canada.