Ron Popowski: Roving biologist and pizza connoisseur
If you’re looking for the best pizza near Atlantic City, Ron Popowski is your man. The supervisory fish and wildlife biologist at the Service’s New Jersey Field Office is a self-proclaimed pizza critic and loves debating the merits of local pies.
In fact, given his work history, he likely can recommend a good slice in many parts of the country. In addition to more than 20 years with the Fish and Wildlife Service, he’s had positions with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. His resume includes Everglades, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain national parks; Patuxent Wildlife Research Center; San Bernardino and Coconino national forests; and the Service’s Ventura and South Florida field offices.
Navigating the hearing world
Popowski was born Deaf, and his parents and siblings are Deaf. To communicate, he uses American Sign Language, often through interpreters, and lip-reading. Video captioning, visual alert systems, and video phones are useful tools.
Popowski feels that, in the workplace, it’s important that supervisors and coworkers have empathy — not sympathy — for people with disabilities.
“Sympathy doesn’t help me,” he said. “Empathy includes an effort to make a change.”
During the first few months of the pandemic, as meetings went from in-person to remote, he struggled to connect with colleagues because platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom were inaccessible to him. Thanks to good tech support and increased awareness among coworkers, however, the situation is improving every day.
“All I ask is that you meet me in the middle,” he said.
At-risk advocate
Popowski appreciates the opportunity to continuously learn that his position as endangered species biologist offers. He particularly enjoys studying at-risk species — those headed for the endangered species list unless steps are taken — and promoting their conservation. He hopes to someday expand his work into environmental education for Deaf kids, sharing his passion for wildlife both in-person and virtually.
While stationed at the Ventura Field Office in California, Popowski worked with partners to create the 1,000-acre Morro Bay Dunes Greenbelt, coastal dunes habitat that connects Montana de Oro State Park and Morro Bay State Park. The wildlife corridor benefits the Morro Bay kangaroo rat and Morro shoulderband snail — both endangered — and threatened shrub Morro manzanita.
Exploring near and far
Popowski has traveled to 35 countries, visiting reserves and parks and learning about Deaf communities around the world. He is drawn to vast, open landscapes, like those in Mongolia, Siberia, and Kazakhstan and hopes to travel without restriction in coming years.
During the pandemic, he’s kept his ramblings local, visiting beaches on the Jersey Shore and birdwatching. He finds driving scenic back roads early on a weekend morning meditative.
“It’s very refreshing and gives me a positive feeling every time,” he said.
He didn’t say if he picks up a pizza for breakfast on the way home….
