2012–2013: Roger Lederer

Dr. Roger J. Lederer was awarded his PhD in Zoology in 1972 from the University of Illinois and was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the fall of that year. He was Director of the Eagle Lake Field Station twice from 1973-1977 and 1986-1989, Department Chair from 1979–1986, Associate Dean of the Graduate School from 1988-1991 and was Dean of the College of Natural Sciences from 1991-2001. Roger was instrumental in securing the funding from the Andrew Foundation for the Floyd L. English Natural Sciences Scholarships.

Dr. Lederer’s specialization is in ornithology and he taught and conducted research in this area while at Chico State. He was chair of 25 graduate thesis committees during his tenure and was a member of numerous other graduate committees.

Roger received numerous grants from such agencies as the National Science Foundation, University of California, Department of Energy, Eisenhower Foundation, FIPSE, Toshiba Corporation of America, Chevron Oil Corporation, Applied Materials and Chico State. The funding was for research and projects such as the Eagle Lake Field Station, ornithology research, graduate and undergraduate students research, science education, science teacher development, science summer camps for underrepresented students, the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, and a problem-solving, simulation and teamwork approach to teaching integrated science.

He received a Professional Achievement Award in 1981 and has written more than 30 research papers, a textbook "Ecology and Field Biology", and many books about birds. He regularly writes a column on bird watching for the Chico Enterprise-Record.

After retiring from CSU, Chico Dr. Lederer directed the Bidwell Environmental Institute, now the Institute for Sustainable Development, managed the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, and chaired the local science fair board. He has been a naturalist for cruise lines describing ecology, natural history, and geology for passengers, and has been a consultant for the BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio and other organizations and publications. Dr. Roger Lederer has traveled to more than 80 countries and you can be sure he knows the native birds in each one of them. He's spent more than 40 years studying and writing about birds.