William deBuys is an American conservationist and author whose career centers on environmental stewardship and the American Southwest. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later completed a PhD in American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. As a dedicated practitioner, deBuys directed the Conservation Fund in New Mexico, pioneered sustainable ranching initiatives like the Valle Grande Grass Bank, and was the founding chair of the Valles Caldera Trust, which managed the 87,000-acre Valles Caldera National Preserve. He has written ten books, which blend historical research with ecological advocacy. His extensive experience earned him recognition as a Lyndhurst Fellow and a Guggenheim Fellow.