MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont will see its first woman take the helm of the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Andrea Shortsleeve, a habitat biologist with the department, was tapped Tuesday to become its next commissioner to take the place of Chris Herrick.
Shortsleeve has been with the department for the past eight years and works closely with private landowners. Before that, she spent 10 years out west with the U.S. Forest Service doing habitat management.
“The professions represented at the agency have historically been considered male-dominated, whether as scientists or engineers. But now, more than half are women as is more than half of leadership at this point,” said Vermont Natural Resources Commissioner Julie Moore.
Shortsleeve will take over next week as interim commissioner.
Herrick is taking a new job as director of emergency services at the Agency of Transportation.