Marilyn Marler is a biologist and conservation leader who has spent her career working to protect Montana’s landscapes and the communities connected to them. She grew up near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where time spent outdoors sparked an early interest in the natural world. Marler earned her BS in Biology from the UC, Davis, and later completed an MS in Biology at the University of Montana.

From 1998-2024, she worked as the University of Montana’s Natural Areas Specialist. Her work included caring for well-loved places such as Mt Sentinel and Fort Missoula, with a focus on habitat protection, invasive species management, and balancing public use with ecological health. She also taught botany and served on various non-profit boards during that time.

Marler has also carried her conservation experience into public service. She served on the Missoula City Council for more than a decade, where she supported open space protection, stewardship, and thoughtful land-use planning. As a member of the Montana House of Representatives from 2019-2026, she has brought a scientist’s perspective to policy discussions affecting public lands and conservation.

In 2024, Marler became Executive Director of the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula. In this role, she helps people of all ages better understand the landscapes, plants, and wildlife that define Montana, bringing her knowledge and experiences to share with future generations of conservationists.

By Kali Zaglauer