LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. William H. Schlesinger upon the
occasion of his retirement as President of the Cary Institute

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge signif-
icant milestones in the distinguished lives and careers of esteemed
residents of this Empire State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. William H.
Schlesinger upon the occasion of his retirement as President of the Cary
Institute; and
WHEREAS, Dr. William Schlesinger is being recognized for his dedicated
service to New York State as the second President of the 30-year old
environmental research organization, succeeding founding president Dr.
Gene E. Likens in 2007; and
WHEREAS, President William Schlesinger will officially retire in June
of 2014, leaving a legacy of excellence in education, outstanding
growth, and exceptional achievement for the institution; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Dartmouth College (A.B.) and Cornell University
(Ph.D.), President William Schlesinger began his illustrious career at
the University of California Santa Barbara; he went on to serve more
than 20 years as an esteemed professor at Duke University, serving as
Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences from
2001 to 2007; and
WHEREAS, His appointment to the Cary Institute brought him to Mill-
brook and to a place where scientists are leaders in understanding how
human activities impact both natural ecosystems and the spread of infec-
tious disease which is globally important work which connects findings
with citizens and policy makers; and
WHEREAS, Under his leadership, the Cary Institute has streamlined its
facilities, strengthened its outreach efforts, diversified its funding
platform, and performed strategic hires which have deepened the organ-
ization's expertise in disease ecology and freshwater science; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure, President William Schlesinger established
a number of outreach and communication efforts, among them the popular
Friday Nights at Cary public lecture series, Science and Management
Forums for decision makers, residency opportunities for artists and
writers, and various media partnerships such as Earth Wise, and the Cary
Institute's daily radio collaboration with WAMC Northeast Public Radio,
which has aired more than 450 segments; and
WHEREAS, President William Schlesinger is an elected member of the
National Academy of Sciences, a past-president of the Ecological Society
of America, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a
board member of the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Doris Duke Charitable Founda-
tion; and
WHEREAS, President William Schlesinger is also an expert in soil
carbon and has authored or coauthored more than 200 scientific papers
and the widely-adopted textbook, BIOGEOCHEMISTRY: AN ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL
CHANGE; and
WHEREAS, He has testified before the United States House and Senate
and his work has informed the Clean Air Act and the California Desert
Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor President William H. Schlesinger upon the occasion of his retire-
ment as President of the Cary Institute; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. William H. Schlesinger and to the Cary Institute.