Frank Wagner

Franklin Wagner joined CMI in 2024 as a Private Lands Engineering Assistant based out of Abingdon, Virginia to support implementation of the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Aquatics Connectivity Framework, working to increase the voluntary uptake and successful delivery of conservation practices on private agricultural lands. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Franklin studied at Purdue University, graduating with a B.S. in Environmental and Ecological Engineering in 2017. He then earned a M.S. in Forestry & Natural Resources at Purdue, graduating in 2019. His thesis research was focused on using lidar remote sensing technology to measure forest canopy structure and complexity. He developed an interest in habitat restoration as a career while working on his senior design project to develop a sturgeon habitat remediation plan on the Rouge River in Detroit, Michigan. In 2020 he moved from the Midwest to Southwest Virginia to start his career in environmental restoration and conservation. In his free time, he enjoys attending sporting and live music events, traveling, and exploring the mountains of Appalachia.