Current Graduate Students

• N. Lee May: PhD Student – started Fall 2019
• Jenna M. Likins: PhD student – started Fall 2018
• Holly F. Henderson (Kreiner): MS non-thesis – started Fall 2020
• Chali Simpson: PhD Student – started Fall 2021

Former Graduate Students

Alan M. Romero, MS Non-Thesis – Sept 2021-Aug 2022. Professional Paper: Environmental Externalities and Economic Mechanisms Associated with Fugitive Methane and Hydraulic Fracturing in the Energy Sector

J. Kelly Hoffman, PhD – Sep 2015-Aug 2020. Dissertation: Implementing Fire with Feeling: The Role of Heuristics and Process Modelling in Navigating Social Barriers to Landscape-scale Prescribed Fire Use in the Southern Great Plains

Zachary M. Hurst, PhD – Jan 2011- Dec 2019. Thesis: Social Considerations for Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes

Lars G. Coleman, MS – Sep 2016-Aug 2019. Thesis: Landowner Perception of Information about Prescribed Fire: Influence on the Application of this Land Management Tool in the Southern Great Plains

Alissa M. Hinojosa, MS – Sep 2016-May 2019. Thesis: Prescribed Fire in the Southern Great Plains: Legal and Regulatory Roles

Thomas W. McDaniel, MS – Sep 2016-May 2018. Thesis: Prescribed Fire Outreach in the Southern Great Plains: Challenges and Opportunities.

Jenna M. Likins, MS Non-Thesis – Sep 2016-Aug 2018. Professional Paper: Markets for the Ecosystem Services Provided by Sustainable Land Management.

Kyle L. Clifton, PhD – Sep 2012-Aug 2018. Dissertation: The Impact of Constituency Building on Development and Conservation Sentiment in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere.

Sam Free, MNRD – Jan 2017- May 2018. Professional Paper: Feral Hogs: An Economic Loss or Missed Opportunity?

Tanner Garth, MNRD – Sep 2013-Dec 2016. Professional Paper: NRCS Employee Perceptions of Wetland Reserve Program Functioning.

Marian E. Higgins, PhD. – Sep 2010-Dec 2016. Dissertation: Linking Values and Framing Theories in New Energy Development: Low-temperature Geothermal Energy (LTGE) in Coastal Texas.

Jane A. McFarland, MNRD – Sep 2013-Dec 2015. Professional Paper: Maximizing Investment Potential for Conservation Practices for the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken – Suitable Habitat and Limitations.

Dianne A. Stroman, PhD – Sep 2009-Dec 2014 (Co-advised by Jianbang Gan). Dissertation: Assessing Perpetual Conservation Easements as a Tool for Land Protection – The Private Landowner Perspective.

Carissa Wonkka, PhD – Sep 2010-Dec 2014 (Co-advised by William Rogers). Dissertation: Influence Of Disturbance, Soils, And Socio-Economic Constraints On Restoration In Brush Encroached, Semi-Arid Texas Rangelands.

Michele Clark: MS – Sep 2012-Dec 2014 (Co-advised by William Rogers). Thesis: Evaluating The Interactive Effects of Seasonal Prescribed Fire and Grazing on Invasive Grass Abundance and Woody Brush Encroachment.

David Toledo, PhD – Sep 2008-May 2013. Dissertation: Identifying Social-Ecological Factors Influencing The Use of Prescribed Fire to Maintain and Restore Ecosystem Health in Texas, USA and Northern Chihuahua, Mexico.

Laura E. Martin, MS – May 2008-Aug 2010. Thesis: Urban Residents’ Perceptions about the City of Austin’s Wildlands.

Jennifer E. Thomas, MS (non-thesis) – Aug 2006-Aug 2008. Comprehensive Exam

Yingjie (Ann) Zhang, Ph.D. – May 2006-Aug 2008 (Major Advisor after Jerry S. Stuth). Dissertation: Temperature Driven Diet Quality Prediction for Free Grazing Cattle.

Ryan M. Lammert, MS (non-thesis) – Jan 2005-Aug 2007. Professional Paper: A Comparative Analysis of Wildlife Management Associations in the Edwards Plateau and Post Oak Savanna Eco-Regions of Texas.

Craig M. Limesand, MS – Sep 2004-May 2006. Thesis: Landowners’ Perceptions on Coordinated Wildlife and Groundwater Management in the Edwards Plateau.

Amber M. Davis, MS – May 2004-Dec 2005). Thesis: Optimizing Public Resource Allocation for Programs Aimed at Managing Woody Plants on the Edwards Plateau: Water Yield, Wildlife Habitat, and Carbon Sequestration.

Bradley J. Woodard, MS – Sep 2003-Dec 2005. Thesis: Landowner perceptions on the use of prescribed fire as a management tool.

Malini V. Nair, PhD – Sep 2002-Dec 2004. Dissertation: Property rights orientations of landowners in Texas, Utah and Colorado.

Christopher Narayanan, MS – Sep 2001-Aug 2003. Thesis: Landowner Survey of Cost-Share Brush Management Programs in Two Texas Watersheds.

Heidi E. Amestoy, MS – Sep 1999-Aug 2002 (C-advised with Mort Kothmann). Thesis: Adoption of Brush Busters and Other Brush Management Technologies by Texas Landowners.

Mark R. Tays, MS – Sep 1999-Dec 2001. Thesis: Factors Influencing Landowner Willingness to Enroll in a Cost-Share Brush Management Program in the Pedernales River Watershed.

Larry L. Lehr, PhD – Sep 1995-Dec 2000 (Co-advised by Steve Whisenant). Dissertation: Empirical Estimation and Comparison of Observer Perceptions Relating to Vegetative Patters.

Graduate Committee Member

Doctor of Philosophy

Chara Ragland, PhD. (Current), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Wenjuan Chen, PhD. (Current), Dept. Ecosystem Science and Management

Jean-Claude Bizimana, Ph.D. (2012), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Mariano Mezzatesta, Ph.D. (2012), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Wayne Becker, Ph.D. (2011), University of North Texas

Anna Knipps, Ph.D. (2011), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Dirac Twidwell, Ph.D. (2011). Dept. Ecosystem Science and Management

Laura S. Weber, Ph.D. (2011). Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Memory Machingambi (Zimbabwe), Ph.D. (2010), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Joseph E. Mbaiwa (Botswana), Ph.D. (2008), Dept. Recreation, Parks and Tourism

Po-Hsin Lai (Taiwan), Ph.D. (2007), Dept. Recreation Parks and Tourism

Zhenghong (Tommy) Tang, Ph.D. (2007), Dept. Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture

Matthew W. Wagner, Ph.D. (2005), Dept. Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture

Steven Byenkya, Ph.D. (2004), Dept. Rangeland Ecology and Management

Sikhalazo Dube, Ph.D. (2004), Dept. Rangeland Ecology and Management

Laban A. MacOpiyo, Ph.D (2004), Dept. Rangeland Ecology and Management

Robert S. Blaisdell, Ph.D. (2001), Dept. Rangeland Ecology and Management

Master of Science

Jifar Nata, MS. (Current), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Diane Robinson, MS. (Current), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Glenda Fletcher, M.Arch. (2012), Dept. Architecture

Kelly Wilcox, M.S. (2010), Dept. Geography

Kelly Reyna, M.S. Dept. (2008), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Nicole L. Smolensky, M.S. (2007), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Dustin van Liew, M.S. (2007), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Amy M. Williams M.S. (2007), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Viet Bachmann, M.S. (2006), Dept. Geography

Joshua M. Peschel, M.S. (2004), Dept. Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Zola M. Gibson, M.S., (2003), Dept. Rangeland Ecology Management

Keith Olenick, M.S. Dept. (2002), Rangeland Ecology and Management

Claudia P. Ceballos Fonesca, M.S. (2001), Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

Heather G. Harris, M.S. (2000), Dept. Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Master of Science non-thesis, Master of Agriculture, Master of Nature Resources

Tomye Folts-Zettener, MNRD (2008) Dept. Recreation Parks and Tourism

Courtney Rathael, MS-Non-Thesis (2008), Dept. Agricultural Economics

Jeremy A. James, M.Ag. (2003) Dept. Recreation Parks and Tourism