A Commissioner’s Quest for Environmental Stewardship

As a biology major with a Latin American Studies concentration, Sarah (Rosenberg) Strommen ’95 knew she was interested in the ecological side of biology, especially environmental conservation in Latin America. She was a recipient of the Elsie Stouffer ’24 Fellowship, and following her graduation, conducted her project “The Development of National Conservation Strategy in Costa Rica” on a Fulbright Research Fellowship. Her experiences at Grinnell and through her research were consistent with her interests in natural resources and environmental ecology, but they also shaped her professional journey.  

Strommen is now the first woman to serve as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner for Minnesota. She describes her path to the DNR as a “choose your own adventure.” During her Fulbright, she was intrigued by the connection between the science she saw during her fieldwork and the influence the government and public policy had in it. These kinds of questions lead her to complete a Master's Degree of Environmental Management at Duke University, a 2-year professional degree program focused on biological conservation and the application of science across various fields; resource economics, international development, conservation policy, and environmental social sciences. She then went on to work in private business, non-profits, local and state governments, environmental education, direct land conservation, and policy administration. This broad set of experiences built the skills necessary to serve as the Commissioner, where her role today involves education, policy interpretation, and direct management of wildlife and habitats. While travelling throughout the state for her work, she relishes the opportunities to “share outdoor experiences with people who experience [places] in different ways.”  

Throughout our conversation, Strommen repeatedly emphasized the role of the public in conservation work. She firmly believes that “hearing their stories about the things they value and experiences they have” helps her and the DNR think about the decisions they make and who they impact in a real-world context. Strommen believes it is important for people to understand that while science plays a role in informing policy and decisions, it does not provide answers alone. To her, science can inform and work with social factors, but it needs translation and a balancing with social and political tolerance. This challenge has pushed the DNR to increase the public communication of their work, for people to see science and data collection in action — like the aerial surveys that are done on habitats and species populations — and connect it to the resulting actions that are taken. The DNR can’t do work on behalf of the public and their resources without the public’s engagement, Strommen explains.  

Serving as Commissioner comes with its challenges, says Strommen: people are passionate but have very diverse perspectives, so it's impossible to make everyone happy. Financial resources can also limit conservation work, particularly in a state like Minnesota rich in natural resources. “The reality is that there is a limit to the dollars that need to be divided among education, human services, health ... and environment is often last on the list,” Strommen shares. As commissioner, she’s asking, "how can we integrate the environment into those other categories?” The environment is important for people’s mental and physical health, it is involved in health and human services, and it can be educational because of the learning opportunities in nature and the outdoors. Climate change presents another huge challenge for her work managing natural resources. The DNR must monitor changes to ensure they are not doing things that climate change is undoing. Within all these challenges, however, Strommen sees opportunities — to adapt and prepare an agency to manage 5 ½ million acres of land, and to take the diversity of opinions as use them as a strength to find better outcomes.  

Strommen’s work often has an interdisciplinary nature. During her second year as Commissioner, she saw the dynamics of her role change during the global pandemic. Her job became as much public health-oriented as it was natural resources-focused, because they had to accommodate their work to maintain the health and safety of their staff and the public amidst the influx of people using outdoor spaces. Political events like the murder of George Floyd and the January 6th events at the U.S. capital also shifted dynamics; her work had the opportunity to foster social justice and strengthen the basic foundations of democracy and government. When reflecting on this challenging year, Strommen said, “our mission is always going to be natural resources, but when we don’t do that, it's also public health, social justice, and the basic foundations of government.” The DNR “can't be forest, waters, or fishery alone” when all those areas work together to be an ecosystem, says Strommen. “Conservation work needs individuals who can foster a mindset of interconnectedness.” 

For Grinnell students interested in conservation policy and environmental work, Strommen emphasizes that the field encompasses a “big tent,” with various areas of study and needs lots of people with diverse skills. There are opportunities for research, policy, and hands on management through multiple agencies (government, non-profit, academic institutions). Each of these areas plays a different role in conservation work, so Strommen encourages students to “be thoughtful about the role you’d like to play and contribute in a way that is meaningful to you.”