WESTBOROUGH — Dr. Everose “Eve” Schlüter has been appointed director of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, becoming the first woman to lead MassWildlife.
MassWildlife announced the appointment on Monday, Aug. 10, following a nationwide search. Schlüter has served as acting director since January and has nearly two decades of experience with the agency.
As director, Schlüter will oversee MassWildlife’s efforts to conserve fish and wildlife, protect and restore habitat, expand wildlife-dependent recreation and strengthen partnerships with communities and conservation organizations across Massachusetts.
“I am deeply honored by the board’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to lead an agency that has meant so much to me throughout my career,” Schlüter said.
She said she looks forward to working with agency staff, partners, and communities to advance science-based conservation, expand opportunities for people to connect with the outdoors and conserve the state’s natural resources.
Emma Ellsworth, chair of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, said the board selected Schlüter following a nationwide search.
“Her commitment to science-based conservation, outdoor recreation, and strong partnerships will position MassWildlife for continued success for years to come,” Ellsworth said.
Before becoming acting director, Schlüter served as MassWildlife’s deputy director from 2023 to 2025. In that position, she helped establish and implement agency priorities and oversaw programs involving fisheries, wildlife, endangered species, operations, and land and habitat conservation.
She also helped develop Massachusetts’ statewide biodiversity conservation goals and worked to improve coordination of the agency’s land acquisition, stewardship, and habitat management programs, MassWildlife reported.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said Schlüter has demonstrated both “passion and purpose” while serving as acting director.
“As MassWildlife continues to grow — protecting biodiversity, restoring habitat, expanding outdoor recreation opportunities, and helping communities adapt to new conservation challenges — I can’t think of a better person to lead the agency into its next chapter,” Tepper said.
Earlier in her career, Schlüter served as assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, where she directed conservation science, habitat restoration, species recovery, information management, and regulatory review.
She also led the redevelopment of BioMap, a statewide conservation planning resource created in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.
Schlüter previously served as assistant director of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office and held several positions involving implementation of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
As director, her priorities will include advancing statewide biodiversity conservation goals, strengthening climate resilience, supporting sustainable wildlife and fisheries management, expanding access to hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation and securing long-term funding for MassWildlife.
Schlüter lives in Maynard and holds a doctorate in biology from Tufts University, where her research focused on conservation biology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and literature from Claremont McKenna College.
Her public-service honors include a Governor’s Citation for work advancing the Healey-Driscoll administration’s climate and resiliency goals and the Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service for her work on the state’s Biodiversity Executive Order project.
