Virginia taps longtime conservation leader Nikki Rovner to oversee state parks, land, and water protection
Richmond, Virginia – Governor Abigail Spanberger has announced a major leadership appointment for Virginia’s conservation future, naming Nikki Rovner as the next director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the commonwealth’s lead natural resource conservation agency.
DCR plays a wide-ranging role across Virginia, overseeing state parks, natural areas, outdoor recreation, dam safety, flood resilience, and programs designed to protect land, water, and wildlife habitat. State officials said Rovner’s background and long record of public service make her well suited to guide the agency as it faces growing challenges tied to climate change, conservation needs, and public access to outdoor spaces.
David Bulova, Virginia’s Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, praised the appointment and pointed to Rovner’s reputation across the conservation community.
“Nikki Rovner is one of Virginia’s most trusted and effective conservation leaders, and her appointment as DCR’s director is a tremendous win for the Commonwealth,” said David Bulova. “She brings deep policy expertise, a collaborative spirit, and a lifelong commitment to protecting our natural resources. I have every confidence that under her leadership, DCR will continue to strengthen Virginia’s lands, waters, and outdoor recreation landscape for generations to come.”
Decades of conservation leadership and public service
Rovner arrives at DCR with decades of experience in environmental policy, government relations, and natural resource stewardship. Most recently, she served as associate state director for The Nature Conservancy in Virginia. In that role, she built strong partnerships with state and federal agencies, helped advance conservation funding, and played a key role in shaping policy related to land conservation, mitigation strategies, and climate resilience.
Rovner said the opportunity to lead DCR carries deep personal meaning, given her long history of working alongside the agency.
“I am extremely honored to have been appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve as DCR’s director,” Rovner said. “I have enormous respect for DCR’s mission, programs and people. Having worked in partnership with DCR for nearly my entire career, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to become part of the agency. I cannot wait to start working with agency staff and partners to protect our lands and natural heritage, improve the quality of our waters, increase access to the outdoors and make communities more resilient.”
Her career also includes prior service in state government, where she worked as deputy secretary of Natural Resources under former Governor Tim Kaine. Earlier in her career, she served as a staff attorney for the Virginia Division of Legislative Services, gaining experience at the intersection of law, policy, and environmental protection.
In addition to her government and nonprofit work, Rovner has spent time in the classroom, teaching environmental policy at both the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. She holds a law degree from the University of Richmond and earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science from Penn State.
A lifelong advocate for conservation, Rovner has said her passion for protecting nature started early and never faded.
“Conservation is my passion, both because of its importance for the future of our planet and because it’s endlessly fascinating,” she said. “It’s what I’ve wanted to do ever since I started reading Ranger Rick as a child.”
Beyond her professional roles, Rovner has also served on the boards of Virginia’s United Land Trusts and VIRGINIAforever, a business-conservation coalition focused on increasing state investment in water quality and land protection.
State leaders said her blend of policy knowledge, collaborative leadership, and personal commitment to conservation positions her to guide DCR at a time when protecting natural resources and expanding outdoor access are increasingly tied to Virginia’s long-term resilience and quality of life.
