Wildlife biologist Nyssa Whitford was promoted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to head up the sage grouse program.

Whitford has 17 years of experience at the department, including working with local sage grouse groups and the state’s Sage-Grouse Implementation Team. 

Whitford previously managed geospatial data for the department, collecting and mapping data using the geographic information system (GIS), which creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data. The data collected by the state is available to the public and covers such topics as black-footed ferret recovery efforts, migration corridor risk reduction efforts and statewide habitat priority areas — as well as sage grouse data.

Whitford was among several employees on the department’s GIS section team mentioned for special recognition by the Environmental Systems Research Institute as recipients of the 2021 Special Achievement in GIS award for enterprise reorganization and upgrades to Game and Fish map data systems.

“The department’s GIS section took on a robust challenge to modernize geospatial technology access. The SAG award is true recognition of the collaboration between many in Game and Fish to manage Wyoming’s wildlife with the best available data and science,” said Eric Wiltanger, chief of services who oversees IT operations for the department.

Retired program manager Tom Christiansen, who led the sage grouse program when Whitford was first hired, said she is “a good choice for the sage-grouse job,” adding she is “an effective team player.”

Whitford holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geography with an emphasis in geographic information systems and a business minor, as well as a Master of Science degree in geographic information systems from Pennsylvania State University.