President

Dr. Cathy Early

Cathy is a Professor of Biology at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where she has taught since 2004. Mentored by Kenneth T. Wilkins, Cathy was the first student to complete a PhD in Biology at Baylor University; her dissertation was titled “Response of Small Mammals in Native Tallgrass Prairie to an Invasive Species, Red Imported Fire Ants.” She is most interested in behavioral ecology, especially in mammals and birds. Cathy teaches several field courses including Ornithology, Plant Taxonomy, and Natural History Expedition (which includes a 10-day trip to the Big Bend region of Texas). She also leads the freshman Biology day trip to Colorado Bend State park every semester. Most of her students are pre-health professions majors; however, she succeeds in developing their appreciation of the biodiversity in the natural world that exists outside of a clinical setting.

President Elect

Dr. Dana Lee

Dana is an Associate Professor of Biology at Cameron University. She received her bachelor’s and master’s of science in biology from Angelo State University and her PhD in zoology from Oklahoma State University. At Cameron University, she teaches courses such as Principles of Biology 1, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology and maintains an active research program with the help of undergraduate students. Her research focuses on using molecular biology techniques to answer questions about wildlife.

Permanent Secretary

Dr. Joel Brant

Joel is a professor of biology at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. Joel earned his PhD from Texas Tech University and is broadly interested in the natural history of mammals in Texas. Current research projects tend to focus on the population ecology of small mammals around Abilene and the community ecology of rodents and bats in the Southern Rolling Plains of Texas.

Secretary Treasurer

Dr. Tom Lee

Tom moved to Abilene, Texas, in 1994 and is currently Professor and Chair of the Biology department at Abilene Christian University. Tom obtained a B.S. from Texas A&M University in 1984, M.S. from Angelo State University in 1987 under the direction of Mark D. Engstrom, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1992 under the direction of John W. Bickham. His research interests are in mammalian biogeography and systematics of Ecuador. He has conducted eleven field trips to Ecuador, most of these trips have been in the high Andes. His other research interests include heteromyid rodents and pronghorn of the Chihuahuan Desert. He has served the Texas Society of Mammalogists in several ways: he was chair of the Honorary Membership Committee (1999-2004), Permanent Secretary (1999-2005), and President (2005-2006).

Editor

Dr. Michelle Haynie

Michelle is a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. Her research interests lie in mammalian population genetics and molecular systematics. She is interested in using genetic markers to address conservation and evolutionary questions, with most of her current research focusing on comparative hybrid zone studies and the identification of cryptic species. She also is interested in genomic drivers of the speciation process and local adaptations. She got her PhD from Texas Tech University.