Meryl Harrell is the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she works closely with the USDA Forest Service. Harrell previously served in NRE for eight years during the Obama-Biden Administration, including serving as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary. Before her return to USDA, Harrell served as the Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS), a conservation non-profit that partners with federal agencies to support stewardship of wild public lands and develop the next generation of conservation stewards. Harrell has also served as a consultant advising non-profit organizations, foundations, and government agencies working to conserve America's public and private lands and waters, build social and economic opportunity through outdoor recreation, and increase equitable access to the outdoors and to careers in conservation.