Eve Schlüter Appointed Director of MassWildlife

WESTBOROUGH — The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) announced that Everose (Eve) Schlüter will serve as its next director. Schlüter, who has served as acting director since January, brings nearly two decades of experience at MassWildlife and a distinguished record of leadership in wildlife conservation, endangered species protection, public policy, and strategic planning.

As director, she will oversee the agency’s work to conserve the Commonwealth’s fish and wildlife, protect and restore habitats, expand opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation, and strengthen partnerships with communities and conservation organizations across Massachusetts. Her appointment marks a historic milestone for MassWildlife, making her the first woman to serve as director.

“I am deeply honored by the board’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to lead an agency that has meant so much to me throughout my career,” Schlüter said. “I recognize the tremendous responsibility that comes with advancing MassWildlife’s mission, and I am proud to do that work alongside our outstanding staff, whose dedication, expertise, and passion make our success possible every day. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners and the diverse communities we serve to advance science-based conservation, expand opportunities to connect with the outdoors, and strengthen the agency’s impact. Together, we will conserve the Commonwealth’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources for generations to come.”

Before becoming acting director, Schlüter served as MassWildlife’s deputy director from 2023 to 2025, helping establish and implement agency priorities and overseeing major program areas, including fisheries, wildlife, endangered species, operations, and land and habitat conservation. She also helped lead the development of Massachusetts’ statewide biodiversity conservation goals and worked to strengthen coordination across the agency’s land acquisition, stewardship, and habitat management programs.

Earlier in her career, Schlüter served as assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, where she directed conservation science, habitat restoration, species recovery, information management, and regulatory review. She led the redevelopment of BioMap, a statewide conservation-planning resource created in partnership with the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.

Schlüter also previously served as assistant director of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office and held several positions focused on implementing the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. Across these roles, she developed extensive experience working at the intersection of science, policy, regulation, and public administration.

She holds a doctorate in biology, with a research focus in conservation biology, from Tufts University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and literature from Claremont McKenna College. Her public-service recognitions include a governor’s citation for advancing the Healey-Driscoll administration’s climate and resiliency goals, and the Commonwealth’s Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service for her work on the Biodiversity Executive Order project.