Alex Potash
Postdoctoral researcher 2024

PhD 2023
Dissertation Title: Predators, prey, and acorns, An exploration of predator distributions, prey behavior, and ecosystem process in the Southeastern US.
Exit seminar

MS 2018
Thesis Title: The environmental drivers of behavioral and physical antipredator adaptations in the southeastern fox squirrel.
Rebecca McKee
PhD, 2024
Dissertation Title: Pythons and other predators: Prey behavior and ecosystem function in the Florida Everglades.
Cat Frock
MS, 2022
Thesis Title: Effects of Global Positioning System Tracking and Remote Sensing Data on Understanding of Movement Ecology of Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger)
Paul Taillie
Postdoctoral researcher, 2022
Marina McCampbell
MS, 2021
Thesis Title: Mammal and Python Interactions in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Jack Hartfelder
MS, 2021
​Thesis Title: Megaherbivore Distributions and Their Effects on Savanna Herbivore Community Structure
Zoe Nhleko
PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: Understanding and Responding to South Africa's White Rhino Poaching Crisis
Fezile Mtsetfwa
​PhD, 2020
​Dissertation Title: Understanding Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes on Keystone Savanna Tree Species Distributions.
​Exit Seminar
Katie Hooker
PhD, 2020
​Dissertation Title: Factors influencing two sympatric primary consumer species
Exit Seminar
Lorna McCallister
MS, 2020
​Thesis Title: Effects of land cover change on insect and avian pollinator communities
Wes Boone
PhD, 2020
Dissertation Title: Ecology and population genetics of marsh rice rats and hispid cotton rats on near-shore islands

MS, 2015
Thesis Title: Longleaf pine restoration: implications for mammalian diversity and habitat specialists
Adia Sovie
PhD, 2019
Dissertation Title: Response of vertebrates to hardwood and shrub encroachment in south eastern longleaf pine savannas

MS, 2015
Thesis Title: Evaluating the impacts of burmese pythons on marsh rabbits in the greater Everglades ecosystem
Sarah Duncan
​Postdoctoral Researcher, 2019
Jess Laskowski
PhD, 2019
Dissertation Title: Animal habitat selection, foraging and fear response from daily decisions to global patterns
Haley Epperly
​MS, 2019
Thesis Title: Effects of woody vegetation in savannas on animal diversity and behavior
Don Hardeman Jr.
​MS, 2019
Thesis Title: Effects of the human-dominated landscape on the behavior of female Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus)
Julie Shapiro
PhD, 2018
Dissertation Title: Bats in a changing world: where they go, what they bring, and how they impact people
Annie Loggins
​MS, 2017
Thesis Title: Savanna vegetation shapes small mammal communities and foraging behaviors
Liz Braun de Torrez
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2017
Karen Bailey
PhD, 2017
​Dissertation Title: Drought adaptation among small-scale farmers in Swaziland

​MS, 2013
Rich Stanton
​PhD, 2017
Dissertation Title: Effects of shrub encroachment in grass-dominated biomes on vertebrate communities
Mandy Bailey
​MS, 2016
Thesis Title: Ecology and habitat use of bats in Southern Florida, with special emphasis on the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus)
Jose Soto
PhD, 2016
Dissertation Title: ​Response of mid- and large-sized mammals to woody encroachment in a southern African savanna
Daniel Greene
PhD, 2015
Dissertation Title: Conservation of fox squirrels in Florida
Ricardo Bovendorp
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2015
Andrea Long
PhD, 2015
Dissertation Title: Effects of an invasive ant on vertebrates in Southeastern United States
Chelsey Faller
MS, 2014
Thesis Title: Distribution and habitat associations of round-tailed muskrats in North-Central Florida
Students advised by Dr. McCleery elsewhere:
  • ​Laura Hubbard M.S., WIU
  • Janet Reed Ph.D, Texas A&M
  • Allison Treadway M.S, WIU
  • Zach Hurst M.S., Texas A&M
  • Miguel Licona M.S., Texas A&M
  • Paige Schmidt Ph.D, Texas A&M
  • Jason Schmidt M.S., Texas A&M

In Memorium

Courtney Tye Hooker

Courtney completed her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida in 2007. She joined the McCleery lab in 2011 while working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). She received her MS in 2014 with her research focusing on the distribution of fox squirrels in Florida and the establishment of a reliable method of identifying individual fox squirrels through camera trap photos.

In 2014 Courtney passed away while giving birth to her son, Carter. She is remembered fondly by all those she worked with her and in 2014 FWC established a scholarship in her honor.