Joel E. Dunn

Joel Dunn is president and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy. Prior to joining Chesapeake Conservancy, Dunn spearheaded government relations and project management in the Chesapeake region for The Conservation Fund. His work helped establish protection for national parks, national wildlife refuges and national trails, including the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Dunn has also worked on Capitol Hill and in conservation science.

Dunn earned a master’s of public policy degree from the Terry Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and a master’s of environmental management degree from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences from Duke University, where he was a Doris Duke Conservation fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Evergreen State College. In 2010, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment gave him their Rising Star Award for his work in conservation. Dunn lives in Annapolis with his wife, two daughters and chocolate Labrador retriever.