Featured MPB Champion

Libby Hartfield

Libby Hartfield of Bolton, Mississippi has spent more than thirty years promoting conservation in Mississippi by setting an example for people of all ages. She began her career as a science teacher before becoming Education Coordinator for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in 1978. She has served as Museum Director for 23 years.

Libby has been active in state and national organizations, serving as President of the Mississippi Museums Association, Science Education Chair for the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, President of the Mississippi Conservation Education Advisory Council, Board of Directors member for the Mississippi Science Teachers Association (MSTA) and national board member of the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSCA) and the Association of Science Museum Directors (ASMD). She has been awarded numerous national grants and received awards for her outstanding conservation leadership including the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award for Conservation Education and the Holly Award for outstanding work in support of biodiversity.

Her efforts include the construction of the new Natural Science Museum that was dedicated in March 2000. The new Museum has brought national attention to Mississippi and was rated the number one attraction in Jackson by the Jackson Convention and Visitor's Bureau for seven of the past ten years. The Mississippi Tourism Division named the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science as the state's Attraction of the Year for 2006 and 2009. Last year approximately 160,000 visitors enjoyed the Museum, and more than 160,000 additional people were served through Museum outreach programs through-out the state.

Libby also hosts "Creature Comforts" Thursday mornings at nine on MPB Think Radio, a program made possible by support from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation.