“Some of those who are leaving carry the institutional knowledge, the historical reference to where we are today,” she says.

“There are folks who have been there for 20, 25 years who have helped craft the evolution of long-term care services for frail elders and for people with disabilities who are feeling like they’re forced out of this workplace now.”

Former DNR employee Lathrop also frets about the loss of veteran employees at his former agency, where few young scientists are waiting in the wings.

“We used to have new people getting training and experience on the job so by the time they were in their 50s they were ready to be the next leaders,” he says. “The problem is we’ve had a hiring freeze the last 10 years so there is nobody new coming along.”

A native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Lehigh University, Lathrop earned a master’s degree in aquatic ecology from the University of Michigan and got his professional start with the Dane County Regional Planning Commission back in 1975. He started with the DNR in 1977.