Gov. Evers Appoints Dr. Karen Hyun to Serve as DNR Secretary

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today announced he is appointing Dr. Karen Hyun to serve as the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  

“Dr. Hyun’s extensive science background and expertise working in fish and wildlife, shoreline restoration, and coastal management and resilience will make her a great asset to the Department of Natural Resources and to our administration,” said Gov. Evers. “Having spent most of her career working in environmental policy, Dr. Hyun brings a wealth of experience navigating many of the issues the department is charged with managing every day, and I’m so excited for her to get started.”

“I’m honored to accept this appointment from Gov. Evers to lead the DNR,” said Hyun. “Wisconsin is known for its abundance of natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities, and I have spent much of my life dedicated to understanding, conserving, and promoting the natural resources and spaces that we all know and love. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated DNR staff to ensure that Wisconsin’s ecosystems, wildlife, natural spaces, and resources remain accessible, safe, and available for generations of Wisconsinites to come.”

Hyun has extensive experience working on natural resources, stewardship, and conservation issues. Hyun has most recently served as the chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 2021. She also has more than a decade of experience in policy and environmental work. Hyun began her career in 2009, staffing the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources. In 2012, Hyun served as a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Secretary and also the chief of staff position for the Department’s Office of the Deputy Secretary in 2013. Hyun then became the senior advisor for NOAA in June 2014 before becoming the deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife, and parks at the Department of the Interior in 2015. Additionally, she led and coordinated initiatives focused on coastal resilience, Gulf of Mexico restoration, marine conservation, and coastal stewardship at the National Audubon Society, serving as the director of water and coastal policy before becoming the vice president of coastal conservation in 2018.

Hyun earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Earth Systems from Stanford University in California and a doctorate in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. Hyun lives with her husband and children in Madison.

A photo of Hyun is available here. Hyun’s appointment is effective January 27, 2025. 

An online version of this release is available here.