Kurt Schaefer, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, will provide updates and opportunities on stewardship of Missouri’s Natural Resources. He will share the latest information on MoDNR’s activities, STEM-related career opportunities and the potential to be part of a team that is committed to building a legacy of sustainable oversight for future generations.

Schaefer was named director of MoDNR in January 2025. His legal career spanned three decades, serving as a former state senator and assistant attorney general. He has worked with all branches of government including state agencies, numerous boards, citizen commissions and political organizations.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Missouri and his Juris Doctor with a master’s degree in environmental law from the Vermont Law School.

The talk is hosted by the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, and co-hosted with the Center for Research in Energy and Environment and the O’Keefe Center for Critical Minerals.