The SSAR is pleased to announce the establishment of a new endowment to honor Marion R. Preest who served as Secretary of the Society from 2003 through 2024, a record 22 years as the Society’s chief of staff. She worked alongside 11 different presidents during her term of service, thus providing important continuity and institutional memory. In this role Marion coordinated the activities of some 22 committees, the editors of seven different publications series, and among several other duties also organized the annual Board of Directors and SSAR Business Meetings.
The anonymous donation will sponsor students in the Founder’s Fellows program and the endowment specifies that preference will be given to non-USA students and that students supported with these funds will be designated as Marion R. Preest Fellows. A more complete announcement will appear in Herpetological Review which will give further details including how to make additional contributions to this endowment. Please join us in congratulating Marion on this singular honor!
