Gov. Tony Evers is appointing Dr. Karen Hyun to serve as the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
“Dr. Hyun’s extensive science background and expertise working in fish and wildlife, shoreline restoration, and coastal management and resilience will make her a great asset to the Department of Natural Resources and to our administration,” Ever said.
Hyun has extensive experience working on natural resources, stewardship, and conservation issues. Hyun has most recently served as the chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2021. She also has more than a decade of experience in policy and environmental work. Hyun began her career in 2009, staffing the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources. In 2012, Hyun served as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Secretary and also the chief of staff position for the Department’s Office of the Deputy Secretary in 2013. Hyun then became the senior advisor for NOAA in June 2014 before becoming the deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife, and parks at the Department of the Interior in 2015. Additionally, she led and coordinated initiatives focused on coastal resilience, Gulf of Mexico restoration, marine conservation, and coastal stewardship at the National Audubon Society, serving as the director of water and coastal policy before becoming the vice president of coastal conservation in 2018.
“I’m honored to accept this appointment from Gov. Evers to lead the DNR,” said Hyun. “Wisconsin is known for its abundance of natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities, and I have spent much of my life dedicated to understanding, conserving, and promoting the natural resources and spaces that we all know and love.”
Hyun’s appointment is effective Jan. 27, 2025.