Latest News
NSF Grant Looks at Genetic Diversity
Professor Michael Schummer of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is a co-principal investigator for a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from ESF, the University of Texas El Paso, Mississippi State University, Smithsonian Institute, and Illinois Natural History that has received nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study genetic diversity in North Ameri
Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker
A Kennedy chair project on evaluating the efficacy of marsh terraces is featured on the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker. Visit the tracker at dwhprojecttracker.org/project/749
Delta Waterfowl Hunt Program
The weather was cold, clear and breezy for the Delta Waterfowl Mississippi State University Hunt Program this past weekend, but everyone had a good time and learned more about the role waterfowl hunting plays in wildlife conservation. Students participated in two clay shooting events, a mentored hunt, a waterfowl presentation, and demonstrations on concealment, calling, and decoy strategies. Thank
Alumni
Below is a list of Alumni compiled from past and present students. If you find an error or can add information to an alumni, please contact Karen Brasher
William "Bill" R. Alexander
Degree: M.S. Degree (1988-1990)
Current Position: Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Searcy, AR
Barb (Lercel) Avers
Degree: M.S. Degree (1995-1997)
Current Position: State Waterfowl Biologist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Location: Lansing, MI
Scott Barras
Degree: B.S. & M.S. Degrees (1990-1993)
Current Position: Virginia State Director, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services
Location: Moseley, VA
Steve Barry
Degree: M.S. Degree (1990-1992)
Advisor: Richard Kaminski and Ed Hill
Current Position: Deceased
Location:
Michael Brasher
Degree: M.S. Degree (1998-2000)
Current Position: Biological Team Leader, Gulf Coast Joint Venture
Location: Lafayette, LA
Kevin Brunke
Degree: M.S. Degree (2004-2007)
Advisor: Kevin Hunt and Richard Kaminski
Current Position: Conservation Resources Biologist, Migratory Game Bird Program, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks
Location: Jackson, MS
James Callicut
Degree: B.S. Degree (2007), M.S. Degree (2010)
Current Position: Conservation Resources Biologist, Waterfowl Program, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks
Location: Jackson, MS
Matt Chouinard
Degree: M.S. Degree (2001-2003)
Current Position: Staff Biologist, Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Location: Morris, MN
Dr. Jose A. Cruz-Burgos
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (2000-2005)
Advisor: Francisco Vilella and Richard Kaminski
Current Position: Wetlands/Wildlife Biologist, Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Location: San Juan, PR
Dr. J. Brian Davis
Degree: M.S. & Ph.D. Degrees (1995-2001)
Advisor: Richard Kaminski and Bruce Leopold
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University
Location: Mississippi State, MS
Dean W. Demarest
Degree: M.S. Degree (1990-1993)
Current Position: Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Atlanta, GA
Dr. Jim A. Dubovsky
Degree: M.S. & Ph.D. Degrees (1984-1990)
Current Position: Central Flyway Representative, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Denver, CO
James Feaga
Degree: M.S. Degree (2011-2013)
Advisor: Francisco Vilella
Current Position:
Location:
David Fishman
Degree: Ph.D. Degree
Current Position:
Location:
K. Sarah Fleming
Degree: M.S. Degree (2010)
Current Position: Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Location: Ann Arbor, MN
Justyn Foth
Degree: M.S. Degree (2010) and Ph.D. Student
Advisor: Francisco Vilella
Current Position:
Location:
Dr. David. R. Gordon
Degree: Post-doctoral fellow (1985)
Current Position: Chief, Branch of Science and Planning, Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Washington, D.C.
Dr. Brian T. Gray
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (1988-1992)
Current Position: Assistant Deputy Minister, Science Branch, Environment Canada
Location: Gatineau, Quebec Canada
Matthew J. Gray
Degree: M.S. Degree (1993-1995)
Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee
Location: Knoxville, TN
Heath M. Hagy
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (2011)
Current Position: Director, Frank C. Bellrose Memorial Lab, Illinois Natural History Survey
Location: Havana, IL
J. Houston Havens
Degree: M.S. Degree (2004-2007)
Current Position: Conservation Resources Biologist, Migratory Game Bird Program Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
Location: Jackson, MS
Jeremy James
Degree: M.S. Degree (1998-2001)
Advisor: Steve Schoenholtz and Richard Kaminski
Current Position: Religious minister
Location: Memphis, TN
Molly Kneece
Degree: M.S. Degree (2016)
Current Position: Wildlife Biologist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Location: SC
Jennifer P. Kross
Degree: M.S. Degree (2003-2006)
Current Position: Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited Great Plains Regional Office
Location: Bismarck, ND
Joe Lancaster
Degree: M.S. Degree, Ph.D. Degree (2018)
Advisor: Brian Davis
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Illinois Natural History Survey
Location: IL
Alan Leach
Degree: M.S. Degree (2011)
Current Position: Ph.D. student, University of Nevada
Location: Reno, NE
Charles R. Loesch
Degree: M.S. Degree (1986-1988)
Current Position: Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Bismarck, ND
Marisel Lopez-Florez
Degree: M.S. Degree (2002-2005)
Advisor: Richard Kaminski and Francisco Vilella
Current Position: Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: San Juan, PR
Dr. Scott Manley
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (1994-1998)
Current Position: Director of Conservation Programs, Ducks Unlimited Southern Regional Office
Location: Jackson, MS
Joe Marty
Degree: M.S. Degree, Ph.D. Degree (2017)
Advisor: Brian Davis
Current Position: Biological Supervisor/Research Coordinator, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Location: Rockefeller Refuge, LA
Kira Newcomb
Degree: M.S. Degree (2014)
Current Position: Monitoring Coordinator, Hummingbird Monitoring Network
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Dr. Aaron T. Pearse
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (2002-2007)
Current Position: Research Wildlife Biologist, Northern Prairie Research Station, U.S. Geological Survey
Location: Jamestown, ND
Edward Penny
Degree: M.S. Degree (2001-2003)
Current Position: Chief of Wildlife (Wetlands), Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks
Location: Jackson, MS
Tom Peterson
Degree: M.S. Degree (2014)
Current Position: Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited
Location: Colorado/Wyoming
David M. Richardson
Degree: M.S. Degree (1987-1989)
Current Position: Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Grenada, MS
Dr. Michael Schummer
Degree: Post-doc (2007-2010)
Current Position: Research Scientist, Long Point Waterfowl (Bird Studies Canada)
Location: Long Point, Ontario
David E. Sherman
Degree: M.S. Degree (1988-1990)
Current Position: Biologist, Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Location: Columbus, OH
Clay Shipes
Degree: M.S. Student (2014)
Advisor: Brian Davis
Current Position: Wildlife Biologist (Natural Resource Specialist), J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area
Location: Port Arthur, TX
Amy Spencer
Degree: M.S. Degree, Ph.D. Degree (2003-2014)
Current Position:
Location:
Elizabeth St. James
Degree: M.S. Student (2011)
Advisor: Richard Kaminski and Michael Schummer
Current Position: Ph.D. student, University of Illinois
Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL
Dr. Joshua D. Stafford
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (2001-2005)
Current Position: Assistant Unit Leader, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, South Dakota State University
Location: Brookings, SD
Scott Stephens
Degree: M.S. Degree (1992-1995)
Advisor: Bruce Leopold and Richard Kaminski
Current Position: Director of Conservation, Ducks Unlimited-Canada
Location: Oak Hammock, Manitoba
Jake Straub
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (2008-2012)
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Environmental Science/Ecology
Location: State University of New York-Plattsburgh
Adam Tullos
Degree: M.S. Degree (2000)
Advisor: Richard Kaminski and Stephen Grado
Current Position: Mississippi State University Extension
Location: Verona, MS
Dr. Bill W. Uihlein, III
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (1993-2000)
Current Position: Assistant Regional Director, Region 4, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Atlanta, GA
Josh Vest
Degree: M.S. Degree (1999-2002)
Current Position: Science Coordinator, Intermountain West Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Missoula, MT
Dr. Mark P. Vrtiska
Degree: Ph.D. Degree (1995)
Current Position: Waterfowl Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Location: Lincoln, NE
Mitch Weegman
Degree: B.S. Degree (2010)
Current Position: Ph.D. student, University of Exeter
Location: Exeter, England
Matt Weegman
Degree: M.S. Degree (2011-2013)
Advisor: Rick Kaminski
Current Position: Biologist, Ducks Unlimited
Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
Brett Wehrle
Degree: M.S. Degree (1990-1992)
Current Position: Refuge Manager, Central Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Location: Marksville, LA
Alicia J. Wiseman
Degree: B.S. Degree, M.S. Degree (2006-2009)
Current Position: Biologist, Ducks Unlimited, South Louisiana Field Station
Location: Lafayette, LA
Dan Zekor
Degree: Research Assistant (1985-1987)
Current Position: Federal Aid Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation
Location: Columbia, MO