Tropical Biologist Ensures His Department’s Conservation Legacy

Last year, Steven Green, a biology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and his wife, Karen Minkowski, M.A. ’93, were inducted into the University of Miami’s Heritage Society, which recognizes donors who make planned gifts or include UM in their estate plans. The couple’s planned gift will help endow a chair in tropical conservation biology in Green’s Department of Biology.

"The University has given me a very special opportunity to pursue what I love to do, and it is a privilege to give something back."

Steven Green

Having studied primates and other wildlife in tropical forests, fish in the laboratory and wild, and cetaceans in the ocean since 1966, Green understands the importance of preserving unique biodiverse habitats. “There are ethical, humanitarian, and practical reasons for conserving our planet’s tropical regions,” says Green, former chair of both the Faculty Senate and the Department of Biology, and a founding director of the DuMond Conservancy for Primates and Tropical Forests. “We need to protect wildlife and their tropical forest habitat while giving future generations an opportunity to enjoy their beauty by creating local support through ecotourism and other sustainable utilization.”

Through their commitment, Green and his wife are promoting tropical conservation efforts while, at the same time, establishing a permanent endowment that will enhance the department’s efforts in perpetuity. Green has also consistently supported other academic areas, UM Athletics, and UM Libraries. “The University has given me a very special opportunity to pursue what I love to do, and it is a privilege to give something back,” Green says.