A Rotary Scholarship Abroad Shapes a Career
DRC Sponsor: John Moeller
Former Luther College Director of Campus Safety, National Park Service ranger, archaeologist, criminal investigator, and Luther alumnus Bob Palmer will visit our club and will discuss how a Rotary scholarship to study abroad in New Zealand was a springboard to a varied, 36-year career.
Upon graduation from Luther College in 1992 with a B.A. in Anthropology, Mr. Palmer was awarded a Rotary International scholarship to study in New Zealand. In 1994 he received his M.A. in Archaeology from the University of Auckland and from there, transitioned to employment as a Park Ranger in the Kapiti District under the Greater Wellington Regional Council. In this position he provided visitor and resource management for Battle Hill Farm Forest Park and Queen Elizabeth Park in New Zealand. In 1997 he returned to the U.S. to assume duties in Protection, Safety, Security, Interpretation & Facilities Management for the National Park Service where he became a subject matter expert in park management, safety and security, policy and law. He managed the care and preservation of nationally significant historic structures, museum collections, archaeological sites and coexistent natural resources. He led criminal and civil investigations into violations of heritage law and provided training and technical assistance to U.S. attorneys and Federal agents within the U.S. Department of Justice on heritage law and the prosecution of criminal violations.
Mr. Palmer is also an experienced resource and land conservation manager. He has developed and managed multi-group public-private partnerships with both private foundations and local and central government agencies. He completed land management police training through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Brunswick, GA in 1998 and in 2005 was awarded an M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email.