Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Nikki Rovner is director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the commonwealth’s lead natural resource conservation agency. DCR oversees Virginia’s state parks, natural areas, outdoor recreation, dam safety, flood resilience and programs that protect land, water and habitat.
Rovner brings decades of experience in environmental policy, government relations and natural resource stewardship. She joined DCR after serving as the associate state director for The Nature Conservancy in Virginia, where she worked to build strong partnerships with state and federal agencies, advance conservation funding and shape policy on land conservation, mitigation mechanisms and climate resilience.
Rovner’s career also includes prior state service as deputy secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Tim Kaine and staff attorney for the Virginia Division of Legislative Services. She has also taught environmental policy at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University and received the VMI Erchul Environmental Leadership Award in 2017. She holds a law degree from the University of Richmond and a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science from Penn State.
