Terrell Erickson, Regional Conservationist – Northeast
Terrell has been with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) since 1996 and since April 2018 as the Regional Conservationist of the Northeast Region. She oversees 14 Northeastern States: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. The work includes delivering over $400 million of program funding for agricultural and forest lands across the Northeast, ensuring practices are implemented, and building relationships with agriculture and conservation interests.
Before 2018, Terrell was the Director of the Ecological Sciences Division at Headquarters for over seven years, leading the NRCS’ top science discipline leaders, such as the National Agronomist, National Grazing lands Specialist, National Forester, and National Plant Materials Specialist. Before that, she was the NRCS National Biologist, Acting Associate Deputy Chief for Management, Acting State Conservationist in Maine, Acting Associate Deputy Administration for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, O&E Internal Auditor, and State Biologist (for 9 years in Hawaii).
Prior to USDA, Terrell worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Navy, a private Environmental Consulting Firm, and numerous Washington State agencies, including internships and fellowships. She has worked in Montana, Washington State, Hawaii, Guam, Palau, Maryland, Maine, and Washington, D.C.
Terrell grew up in Missoula, Montana, has her Master’s in Environmental Science (Limnology emphasis) and studied in Washington State, American University in D.C., and the University of London, England.
