Tag Archives: Borderlands Research Institute

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.

ALPINE, TX – The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) at Sul Ross State University is pleased to announce the largest philanthropic gift in its 10-year history. The $1.5 million gift will fund a new Nau Endowed Chair in Habitat Research and Management at BRI.

The Nau Foundation in Houston has pledged $100,000 to an endowment and $50,000 for operations annually over the next ten years. The gift is also the largest ever received by Sul Ross State University.

“Endowments are among the most impactful philanthropic gifts that can be made because they provide funding certainty for key faculty positions,” said Dr. Bill Kibler, Sul Ross State University President. “We are extremely grateful to John L. Nau III and the Nau Foundation for this incredibly generous gift. It is a strong show of support for the outstanding reputation of BRI and will help expand the expertise of our faculty by allowing us to hire a national expert focused on habitat research and management for the region.”

Nau is the chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors in Houston, the largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in the United States. The Nau family owns a ranch in West Texas and has been actively involved with the BRI for more than 10 years.

The Nau family has supported BRI research projects, including studies on desert bighorn sheep, quail, and mule deer in West Texas. The Nau family has not only helped fund these studies, but their family and ranch personnel actively engage and interact with BRI students. Family member Parker Johnson currently serves on the BRI Advisory Board.

“We’re proud to make this gift to support BRI’s habitat program,” said Johnson. “BRI has been a great asset to our ranch operations, to the landowners of the region, and throughout Texas. Learning more about the habitat that supports thriving wildlife populations will ensure future generations will enjoy the natural resources we have today. Our family believes that supporting the habitat program will have the most impact on future conservation efforts.”

“The Nau family are champions of conservation and they have been leaders in the stewardship of natural resources on the ranches they own and operate in West Texas and across the state,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, who is the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., BRI Endowed Director and professor of Wildlife Management at Sul Ross.

“What I respect the most about the Nau family is that they truly care about natural resource conservation and they seek information about how to best steward the resources they manage on their properties. They let science guide their management decisions and that philosophy has been the cornerstone of our relationship with them. We are immensely grateful for this gift.”

The position will have a joint research and teaching appointment and will be jointly funded by Sul Ross State University and the endowment. Harveson hopes to hire the new position in 2018.