The 2026 Murie Spirit of Conservation Awards brought approximately 125 educators, alumni, neighbors, and friends together at Murie Ranch to honor two leaders whose work continues to shape our understanding of conservation and stewardship.
This year’s honoree, Nancy Shea, Ph.D., has helped generations of learners connect education with environmental responsibility. As founding dean of the Teton Science Schools Graduate Program, founding director of The Murie Center, and an environmental educator and nonprofit leader, she has influenced classrooms, communities, and conservation organizations.
Local Legend honoree Arthur Middleton, Ph.D., the G.R. and W.M. Goertz Professor of Wildlife Management at the University of California, Berkeley, was recognized for his contributions to wildlife research and conservation. Together, the honorees’ work demonstrates how education and research can ripple through generations, inspiring others to understand and care for the natural world.
The gathering also celebrated the Teton Science Schools alumni community. Graduate Program alumni and former staff returned to reconnect, share memories, and reflect on the experiences that continue to shape their lives and work. Honoring Nancy offered a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the program’s lasting influence and the relationships formed through learning together.
At Murie Ranch, these connections carry forward a tradition of conversation and shared responsibility. The awards brought people from different backgrounds together to learn from one another, celebrate contributions to conservation, and reflect on their own connections to stewardship.