Authored by: Dr. Clinton T. Moore The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources mourns the loss of Dr. Michael James Conroy, 72, who passed away peacefully in Athens, Georgia on June 19, 2025, surrounded by his family. Mike was a beloved friend to those at Warnell and to colleagues around the world. Mike earned his PhD in forestry with a concentration in biometrics in 1979 at Virginia Tech. He started his career with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. He came to Warnell in 1986 to serve as the Assistant Leader of the Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, a cooperative research, technical assistance, and educational venture among the federal government, the university, and the State of Georgia. He joined Warnell as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and reached the rank of Adjunct Professor in 1997. After retirement from federal service in 2009, Mike became a Senior Research Scientist with Warnell, and he retired from the university in 2019 as a Senior Lecturer. Mike approached his dual roles as research scientist and educator with equal enthusiasm. He was internationally recognized for his development and application of quantitative methods to the study of wildlife populations, with over 150 scholarly publications to his credit. Mike developed principles of data-informed decision making for the management of game and non-game species. He taught quantitative principles of ecology to scores of students and professionals over 30 years, both in Warnell and around the world. In 1987, he developed an 8000-level course, “Estimation of Parameters of Fish and Wildlife Populations,” that most students will never forget for its challenges. He held his students to high standards and was quite unapologetic about its difficulty. The course continues today in some form, as the topic area is considered foundational to modern wildlife science. He directed the work of 13 PhD and 8 master’s students, many who have become prominent scientists, educators, and conservation professionals. He co-authored 4 textbooks, including one written in Spanish, motivated by his desire to bring knowledge to overlooked corners of the world. His book “Analysis and Management of Animal Populations” is considered the authoritative text in quantitative wildlife ecology, and it is found both in the classroom and on the bookshelves of researchers. Mike loved fishing and hunting with his buddies and traveling with family and friends. He enjoyed the company of his Warnell colleagues, routinely attending faculty functions at Flinchum’s Phoenix well after retirement. Mike was also an accomplished musician, playing guitar, banjo, and mandolin with a close-knit group of friends. Older members of the Warnell community will remember his lunchtime jam sessions out by the turtle pond in the Mary Kahrs Warnell Memorial Garden between Warnell and the Odum School. In 2016, he suffered the incomprehensible loss of his youngest daughter, but he lived to see two grandchildren, who he doted on completely. Events in Memory of Michael Conroy: Honor Symposium – Friday, Sept. 12, 4–8 p.m., UGA Odum School of Ecology. A 4 p.m. social hour will be followed by a 5 p.m. program featuring colleagues and recognized speakers reflecting on Dr. Conroy’s career. Learn more about the symposium. Celebration of Life – Saturday, Sept. 13, 2–7 p.m., Flinchum’s Phoenix. An afternoon of stories, music, and memories, concluding with dinner and dessert. RSVP required. Share remembrances through the Kudoboard where text, photos, and video tributes may be added. Read Mike's full obituary.
