Neal Wilkins is the President and CEO of the East Foundation, a private operating foundation supporting wildlife conservation and other benefits of ranching and private land stewardship. The Foundation operates 218,000 acres of private ranchland in South Texas, where it achieves its mission through research, education and outreach.
Neal has over 25 years of experience leading research and conservation efforts across private lands in Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Washington, and Oregon. His primary focus has been management and conservation of land, water, and wildlife resources on private lands.
Prior to joining the East Foundation in 2012, Neal was a Professor of Wildlife Science and served as the Director of the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the Texas Water Resources Institute where he coordinated the programs of more than 45 scientists and professional staff. Until 2006, Neal was statewide program leader for wildlife and fisheries with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. Prior to joining the Texas A&M faculty in 1998, he spent 6 years directing the wildlife and fisheries programs for Port Blakely Tree Farms, a 150,000-acre forest landholding in the Pacific Northwest.
Neal is a director and former Vice President of the Texas Wildlife Association and is a professional member of the Boone & Crockett Club. Neal is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University, a Masters of Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida. Neal lives in San Antonio with his wife Sandra. He has a daughter (Ashley) in the Nursing Program at UT Health Science Center at Houston; and a son (Matt) who is a Senior at Texas A&M University.