• Ph.D., Natural Resources Science and Management, University of Minnesota, 2024
• M.S., Natural Resources Science and Management, University of Minnesota, 2016
• B.S., Zoology, Minnesota State University, 2012

Illinois Experts Profile

Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Natural Resources

Natural Resources Policy and Management

My research focuses on understanding and improving natural resources management and policy by assessing stakeholder's preferences, support, and actions for management programs and issues. I conduct applied, qualitative research using scientific surveys to analyze stakeholder's values, beliefs, attitudes and behavioral intentions. Past research has focused on: acceptability of wildlife management practices; wildlife disease management; restoration of wildlife populations; wildlife harvest estimates through hunting and/or trapping; and economic expenditures related to hunting. 

• The Wildlife Society

Vaske, J.J., Williams, B.D., Walberg, E.M., Pallazza, S.G., Stephens, L.J., & Miller, C.A. In Press. Survey type, respondent age and response rates among hunters and trappers in Illinois. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2025.2529885

Smith, K., Landon, A., Walberg, E.M., Fulton, D.C., Schrage, M.W., McCann, N., & Forester, J. (2025). Stakeholders' priorities for management of a restored elk (Cervus canadensis) population in northeast Minnesota. Conservation Sciences and Practice, 7(7), e13200. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13200

Vaske, J., Miller, C.A., Williams, B.D, & Walberg, E.M. (2025). Declining hunter and trapper mail survey response rates between 1976 and 2020 in Illinois. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 30(3), 352-361. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2024.2354419

McCann, N.P., Walberg, E.M., Forester, J.D., Schrage, M.W., Fulton, D.C, & Ditmer, M.A. (2021). Integrating Socio-Ecological Suitability with Human-Wildlife Conflict Risk: Case Study for Translocation of a Large Ungulate. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(12), 2810–2820. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14021

Walberg, E., Cornicelli, L., & Fulton, D.C. (2018). Factors Impacting Hunter Access to Private Lands in Southeast Minnesota. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 23(2), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2018.1396510 

INHS Human Dimensions Research Program