About
Jean Eells, Ph.D.
I am excited to offer on-line services:
- on-line workshops for landowners as well as co-sponsoring workshops with partners.
- educational conversation services by the hour for landowners.
I will continue to do my main work of customizing projects for evaluation, research, facilitation and historic or natural resources interpretation. I enjoy consulting with people who are developing projects and funding proposals, and those who need extra horsepower on a project requiring research, communication, evaluation and facilitation skills.
More about Jean
I have worked in conservation for 44 years and on projects as diverse as forestry, prescribed fire in wild lands, urban-wildland interface for fire prevention, invasive species control, all things prairie, soil and water conservation and I know the coolest wildlife folks ever! I have experience with cash rent farming, working with a tenant, cover crops and strip till, and have listened to the stories of more than 3500 women landowners across many states for more than 14 years.

Awards
Conservation Professional of the Year 2021 from the International Soil and Water Conservation Society
Conservationist of the Year 2021 from the National Organization for Professional Women in NRCS
Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year 2021 from the Conservation Districts of Iowa and Iowa NRCS Federal Women's Program
Honorary Lifetime Member of Iowa Association of Naturalists, named in 2022
Aldo Leopold Environmental Education Award for Lifetime Achievement in EE Excellence and Leadership awarded by the Iowa Association of Naturalists and the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition in 2018
Outstanding Interpretive Print Media Award from the Iowa Association of Naturalists and Iowa Conservation Education Coalition in 2016. Awarded jointly to E Resources Group, Women Food and Agriculture Network and Iowa State University Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
1st place in Interpretive Curriculum, Media Awards from the National Association of Interpretation for curriculum developed for Women Caring for the Land for Women Food and Agriculture Network. 2013.
Frederick Leopold Award for outstanding contributions to environmental education in Iowa by business, industry or labor. Awarded to E Resources Group by Iowa Association of Naturalists and Iowa Conservation Education Coalition in 2013.
Excellence in Interpretive Support, co-awarded to Eells and Grudens-Schuck by National Association for Interpretation, Region V (north central US and Manitoba) for evaluation support of environmental education and interpretation. Awarded at Workshop in Dickinson, ND, April 13, 2007.
Excellence in Evaluation Training co-awarded to Eells and Grudens-Schuck by American Evaluation Association Extension Education Evaluation Topical Interest Group at annual conference November 2, 2006.
Gamma Sigma Delta – April 4, 2006 The Honor Society of Agriculture
1st Place for Interpretive Program Curriculum Interpretive Media Awards given by National Association for Interpretation in1999. Prairie Connections curriculum with Iowa Public Television, 1998.
Outstanding Achievement award given by the National Conservation Committee of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1995.
Professional Development Certificate, Iowa Association of Naturalists --1992-97
Conservation Educator of the Year, Iowa Wildlife Federation – 1991
Outstanding Environmental Educator, Iowa Sierra Club – 1991
National Award, President’s Environmental Youth Awards – 1988