Patrick Doran
Divisional Director of Strategy, Measures and Science
The Nature Conservancy

Dr. Patrick Doran joined The Nature Conservancy in 2005 and currently serves as the Director of Strategy, Measures and Science for TNC’s five-state Midwest Division. In this role, Patrick leads a team that promotes a consistent approach to implementing the tenets of The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation by Design approach and demonstrates excellence in the areas of
Strategic Planning
Measures, Evaluation and Learning, and
Evidence-Based Science
Throughout his career at TNC, Patrick has designed and implemented conservation strategies in Michigan, throughout the Great Lakes region, North America and globally, including the African Great Lakes. He takes a cross-disciplinary approach and has worked in fields that address protected areas establishment and management, sustainable forestry, sustainable agriculture, coastal management, invasive species, fisheries and aquatic connectivity restoration, urban conservation, climate change adaptation, and
underlying measures of success, monitoring and information management. Additionally, he focuses on communicating about the wonders of the natural world.
Patrick earned his Ph.D. in ecology from Dartmouth College. Patrick also holds degrees from Indiana University (M.S./M.A.) and Villanova University (B.A.). He has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers on a wide variety of conservation topics. Additionally, he focuses on communicating about the wonders of the natural world.
In his life outside of TNC, Patrick enjoys every possible minute engaged in some sort of outdoor activity with his family and is currently on an adventure to visit every county in Michigan for hiking, birding, and enjoying local foods and drinks.