Earth Day Special green leaf

A Bison Protecting Bison

Mark Cool ’91 is working on ‘the coolest conservation project you’ve never heard of’
by Jenni Whalen Gritters ’12
Mark Cool ’91 embraced the liberal arts philosophy at Bucknell, where he “tried a bit of everything,” taking courses in nearly every department before landing on a major in psychology and a minor in education. “My Bucknell transcript was like a quilt with many different patches of interest,” he says. “My career has played out in much the same way. I have never been afraid to try something new.”
Portrait close-up photo view of Mark Cool grinning in a dark blue button-up dress shirt and black vest as he stands in front of a bison animal model sculpture indoors somewhere
Photo: Amanda Determan
Mark Cool ’91 is working to support the restoration of wild bison to Montana’s Northern Great Plains.
After three decades of living in the greater New York City area and working in insurance, banking and advertising, Cool decided in 2022 to make a drastic change. He relocated to Montana to become the chief marketing officer at American Prairie, a nonprofit conservation organization that’s working to build the largest nature reserve in the contiguous United States.

In his role, Cool and his team develop compelling storytelling around American Prairie’s mission in order to build national awareness, engage donors and raise funding to support what he calls “the coolest conservation project you’ve never heard of.” American Prairie’s goal is to connect 3.2 million acres of private and public land to restore a fully functioning prairie ecosystem. By connecting and preserving the vast grasslands in Montana’s Northern Great Plains, the organization strives to restore the biodiversity of the area.

Successful restoration means that species native to the region — including bison — can thrive and fulfill their natural ecological role. Millions of bison once lived on the Great Plains, but they were nearly extinct by the late 1800s. American Prairie first reintroduced these native grazers to the landscape in 2005, after a 150-year absence in that region. Today a herd of more than 900 bison roams across tens of thousands of acres there.

“Bison are considered a keystone species in that they shape the ecosystem to such a degree that their absence would drastically change the environment and negatively impact other species that depend on them and their habits,” Cool says. “Our ultimate goal is to grow bison herds to a population size that would result in the species fulfilling their ecological role on the landscape. Seeing bison roam across the prairie and knowing we are preserving this experience and this landscape for future generations drives me and fulfills me in ways financial services never could.”

Cool says it’s never too late to embark on a new path in life. “I like to give this advice: Take chances,” he says. “Follow things that are interesting. Be intrigued by where you’re going and what you’re doing.”

Back to Full Issue
Table of Contents