Michael Finley

President Emeritus, Turner Foundation

In 2001, Michael (Mike) Finley announced that he was leaving his position as Yellowstone National Park Superintendent to take up the post of Turner Foundation president. Under his leadership, the foundation is recognized as one of the most accessible funders in the conservation field. In one year alone, the Turner Foundation awarded 132 environment grants in total, including 32 pertaining specifically to animals and wildlife.

Prior to being President of the Turner Foundation, Finley brings more than three decades of experience to managing national parks. He was the superintendent of Yosemite National Park, Everglades National Park, and Assateague Island National Seashore before being appointed superintendent of Yellowstone National Park in 1994. In his seven years of overseeing Yellowstone, he led the reintroduction of the park's grey wolf population, helped avert the construction of a nearby mine, and created the Yellowstone Park Foundation, which raised $3 million for the park in its first year alone.

He also developed a plan to phase out snowmobiles in Yellowstone, the latter causing him to butt heads with the Bush administration.

Mike Finley was born and raised in Medford, Oregon, attending high school and college there. He received an undergraduate degree in biology and did post graduate work in environmental education and natural resources management.