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Conservation Biology Chair Endowed at BRI by Davidson Charitable Foundation

ALPINE, Texas- Thanks to a $1 million gift, the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) has endowed a Conservation Biology chair at Sul Ross State University. Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson has been appointed to the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation Endowed Chair in Conservation Biology.

“We’re pleased to provide this gift that will support wildlife research at the Borderlands Research Institute,” said Elaine Greenhaw, Secretary/Director of the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation. “Throughout his life, Buddy Davidson supported wildlife, education and the environment, and this is a fitting tribute to the memory of his generous spirit.”

The endowed chair serves as program leader, spokesperson, and chief strategist for the Conservation Biology Program at BRI. The Conservation Biology Program complements the research being done by other BRI program areas that focus on big game, gamebirds and habitat.

In recent years, BRI’s research emphasis has broadened to include information regarding songbirds, hummingbirds and carnivores. Landowners are seeking more information about managing all walks of life on their properties. The Conservation Biology Program plays a critical role in understanding the ecosystem services for various nongame species of the region.

Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson is a Research Scientist with Borderlands Research Institute and a Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management at Sul Ross State University (SRSU). She has worked at SRSU for more than a decade. Her research interests are carnivore ecology, systems analysis and modeling, environmental policy, and landscape ecology. She has published more than 20 manuscripts ranging from carnivore studies, landscape connectivity, predator-prey interactions, population models, and habitat suitability.

“The Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University has made great strides in ensuring that land conservation continues as a priority for research, education, and stewardship,” said Sul Ross State University President Dr. Bill Kibler. “The generosity from the James A. “Buddy” Charitable Foundation takes Sul Ross State University one more step forward in our research to work with landowners for solutions that assist them and their land. Dr. Moody Harveson is an excellent choice to serve as the endowed chair and her wealth of experience will undoubtedly enhance our knowledge of conservation biology across the state and beyond.”

Dr. Moody Harveson earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tarleton State University and her Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University. She earned her PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University where she was a Doctoral Fellow in the Hispanic Leadership Program in Agriculture and Natural Resources. Among her honors and awards, Dr. Moody Harveson received the Educator of the Year in 2016 from the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society.

Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson, the new Davidson Endowed Chair for Conservation Biology, examines an immobilized mountain lion fitted with a GPS-collar.