About the Libbys
The Libby Lecture in Natural Resource Policy was established at the University of Maine Foundation in 2016 with a gift from Lawrence W. Libby and Lois Murdock Libby.
Lawrence (Larry) graduated from UMaine in 1962 with a B.S. in Agriculture Science. After serving active duty as a U.S. Army aviator, he enrolled in graduate school at Cornell University, earning an M.S. in 1968 and a Ph.D. in 1970. Professor Libby’s 36 year academic career focused on resource economics and public policy at Michigan State University, the University of Florida and Ohio State. In 2006, he retired from Ohio State University where he held an endowed chair in rural-urban policy and was Interim Director of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. His father Winthrop C. Libby served UMaine for over 40 years as Professor, Dean of Agriculture, and as President from 1969 to 1973.
Lois Libby graduated from UMaine in 1963 with a B.A. in Psychology; she also has a Master’s of Social Work from Wayne State University. Lois worked in Seoul, Korea for the Korean government as a specialist in international adoption. In Lansing, Michigan she worked for the Department of Labor in policy design and program evaluation. In Gainesville, Florida she worked for the University of Florida as extension assistant in the area of rural poverty and employment. Lois has a strong interest in improving civil rights and economic conditions for minorities, women and the disabled.