Jon Skaggs

Degree: Master of Science in Conservation Ecology & Sustainable Development

Thesis: Spatial conservation prioritization in a freshwater biodiversity hotspot, the Upper Coosa River System

What has become your favorite quote?

“A land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land–community to plain member and citizen of it.”

– Aldo Leopold

What was your greatest epiphany in the last two years related to pursuing your degree?

Maybe not the greatest epiphany, but one epiphany: aquatic biodiversity in the Southeast is totally amazing and totally underrated!

What would be your ideal job in life?

I’d like to make a positive impact on people and the environment. And have fun along the way.

What was your coolest/most surprising research finding?

I explored some exciting new ways to make quantitative conservation planning more targeted and more accessible.

Share advice you would give somebody entering graduate school:

Seek opportunities for diverse experiences: always say ‘yes’ to helping out on others’ projects.

What are your immediate next steps (within the next few months)?

I will join the Travis Devault lab at SREL as a lab manager.

Congratulations, Jon!

Way to go Skaggs!! It was an absolute pleasure working with you. Good luck in the new gig!

Congratulations, Jon! Fantastic work.

Jon, excellent work! Congratulations!

Congratulations Jon! I already miss your talents and camaraderie from the RBC. Your assistance and collaboration have been instrumental to so many, diverse projects - Painted Bunting survival, Riverweed consumption, upper Coosa monitoring, faunal recovery from catastrophic poisoning - and these are just the ones I know about! Your graduate research reflects insight as well as skillful data wrangling and programming, and will support conservation in the upper Coosa for years to come. Nice work!

Congratulations Michelle, Christine, Dan, Lexi, Paige, and Jon! You did it! You'll be forever the class of 2020 (think of the stories you can tell -- impeachment, covid, fraudulent elections, SCOTUS, and the best part...your degree). Seriously, I can appreciate how unusual your last year has been and I'm extremely proud of how you've succeeded through the various challenges you've faced -- finishing is hard enough without a pandemic, and you made it. You've each done a great job and I am proud of your accomplishments, as I hope you are. Good luck with whatever your next steps are. Here's to a fantastic life -- I hope that science remains part of your future, along with a wonderful dose of personal contentment and joy to go with it.

Dear Jon, I sent you warmest congratulations for your fine achievement! I am very happy for you and proud of you. I remember when you first introduced yourself to me. I've always appreciated that you made me feel welcome. Wishing you the very best in your new position where I know you will have a positive influence with that community, too! May you enjoy the holidays and the good things to come in 2021! Julie