Debbie Colbert always knew she wanted to work in natural resources — but the fact that she ended up doing so in Oregon might come as a bit of a surprise.

Colbert, 56, is the first woman to lead the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in an agency that traces its roots back to the 1800s.

She grew up in South Carolina, the youngest of five children, before arriving in the Beaver State 28 years ago as a doctoral student at Oregon State University.

“We're in the group of many people here that fell in love with the state and never left,” said Colbert, who moved to Oregon with her husband. “I'm the only one (of my siblings) that didn't stay in South Carolina. So I like to say that I'm an Oregonian by choice.”

That choice eventually brought her to the head of ODFW , an agency of 1,200 em

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