LVDI International proudly announces that Ms. Rose Marie Randrianarison (Madagascar Program Coordinator) has been chosen as a 2019 winner of the Charles Southwick Conservation Education Commitment Award! Her nomination was submitted by Dr. Chia Tan (Vice President) and endorsed by Dr. Friederike Woog, Curator of Ornithology at the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History. In her nomination letter, Dr. Tan highlighted Ms. Randrianarison’s accomplishments and contributions to conservation education. She wrote,

“An outstanding primatologist, Ms. Randrianarison has been a dedicated teacher her entire career, building conservation capacity in university students, early career professionals and protected area staff, as well as educating children to promote appreciation for nature and conservation stewardship. Ms. Randrianarison’s longstanding and ongoing commitment to conservation education makes her a well deserving recipient of this year’s Charles Southwick Conservation Education Commitment Award…Superior professional qualifications and experience combined with exceptional personal determination, courage, compassion, and humility, these are but few words that encapsulate who Ms. Randrianarison is.”

Ms. Randrianarison becomes the second Southwick award winner at LVDI International, joining Nepal Program Coordinator, Mr. Bishwanath Rijal, who received this prestigious honor in 2017. Not only is the award a testament to their individual achievements but also it exemplifies the quality of LVDI International’s mentorship and in-country conservation programs. We thank the awards committee at the International Primatological Society for recognizing these remarkable teachers who have dedicated their careers to raising conservation awareness and educating the public about the plight of primates in their countries.