David Mears
Currently a leader with the National Audubon Society in Vermont, David Mears is an environmental attorney with a career as an educator, advocate and public official.
Biography
Mears is the Executive Director of Audubon Vermont and a Vice President of the National Audubon Society. In his role, Mears implements conservation strategies focused on climate, working lands, water, endangered species, and bird-friendly communities. He also supports educational and outreach programs based out of the Green Mountain Audubon Center. Prior to joining Audubon Vermont in the fall of 2018, Mears served as the Associate Dean of Environmental Programs at Vermont Law School. In addition to serving as a teacher and administrator at Vermont Law School, Mears has held a number of positions in state and federal government including serving as Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation from 2011 to 2015. He has also served in Texas state government, the U.S. Department of Justice-Environment and Natural Resources Division, and the Washington Office of the Attorney General-Ecology Division. He has a degree in environmental engineering technology from Cornell University, and a Juris Doctor and Masters of Environmental Law and Policy degrees from Vermont Law School. Mears was a visiting faculty member at Bennington for Spring 2019.