College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
University of California - Davis
1055 Academic Surge
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616
E-mail: jtveon@ucdavis.edu
I am from Texarkana, Arkansas where I attended and graduated from Arkansas Sr. High School (2014). I became an avid outdoorsman at a young age and spent most of my time hunting and fishing for many different game species. My hobbies in particular are waterfowl hunting and fly fishing. During my youth, I was notably involved in nonprofits, such as Ducks Unlimited, and state agencies, such as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).
​
I then attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (with Distinction; 2018). During my time here, I interned with AGFC as a wildlife biology intern and conducted my first research project with Dr. Maureen McClung studying the effects of automobile traffic noise on wintering waterfowl. These experiences strengthened my passion for wildlife research.
​
​
Soon after graduation, I acquired an MSc position in the USGS Arkansas Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. My research advisors were Dr. Brett DeGregorio and Dr. David Krementz. My thesis assessed trends in mallard body mass dynamics within and among winters from 1979-2021 within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). Additionally, I investigated the relationship of mallard body mass with landscape variables in the LMAV of Arkansas. I successfully defended my thesis in November 2021 and graduated with an MSc in Biology in December 2021.
​
After graduating from the University of Arkansas, I accepted a PhD position in the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis. I am co-advised by Dr. John Eadie and Dr. Daniel Karp. My research is using fundamental ecological theory to find sustainable ways to manage mosquito populations while promoting optimal wetland habitat for waterbirds and other wetland species. wetland management.