Division of Wildlife

Research Program Coordinator, Dr. Karen J. Alexy Waldrop is now Director of the Division of Wildlife. Dr. Waldrop earned her Doctorate Degree in Forest Resources from Clemson University.

Dr. Waldrop began her association with KDFWR in 1999 when she began working on the elk restoration program in southeastern Kentucky. Then, in 2000, the department funded a Clemson University study of Kentucky’s elk restoration in which she was the lead researcher. That grew into a 2004 post-doctoral study with the University of Kentucky that continued her elk research and management work. She then joined the department as the Research Program Coordinator in March 2005.

Dr. Waldrop has a diverse background in wildlife management and conservation. She has worked with everything from deer and elk to gopher tortoises and salamanders. She has been a hunting and fishing enthusiast most of her life, and she credits her parents for her sound conservation and management values. She enjoys squirrel hunting with her treeing feist squirrel dog Annie, striper fishing, rabbit hunting, crappie fishing, archery hunting for deer and elk, and turkey hunting. She also enjoys kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking. She soon hopes to add rock climbing to her list of activities.