People

Jeffery B. Cannon, Ph.D.

Landscape Ecologist

Dr. Jeffery Cannon is a Landscape Ecologist at the Jones Center at Ichauway. His lab focuses on landscape ecology of forest disturbances and restoration in pine systems of the western and southeastern U.S., focusing on spatial patterns and processes across multiple scales. Current projects include (1) quantifying hurricane risk to forest resources through multi-scale studies of wind risk, (2) understanding overstory drivers of forest dynamics in longleaf and related systems, and (3) research to improve restoration outcomes in ponderosa pine and longleaf pine forests. Jeff holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Mississippi State University (2009), an M.S. in Biology from the University of Mississippi (2011), and a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Georgia (2015).

Seth Younger, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Seth Younger’s research bridges the Landscape Ecology and Ecohydrology labs. Seth studies the hydrological effects of forest management practices and linkages between evapotranspiration and hydrologic connectivity. His current research focuses on quantifying hydrologic effects of longleaf pine restoration in the southeast Coastal Plain. His work is multi-scale and uses a combination of methods including watershed hydrologic models, spatial analysis, long term data, and field experiments to quantify relationships between land use and hydrologic components. Seth previously focused on partioning forest evapotranspiration and developing approaches for quantifying and incorporating soil-water and groundwater processes in hydrologic models. He earned his M.S. in Geography and Ph.D. in Forestry and Natural Resources from the University of Georgia.

Nicole Zampieri, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr. Nicole Zampieri is a joint Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Jones Center at Ichauway and Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee, FL. Her research explores patterns in function, structure, and diversity of endangered longleaf pine ecosystems using field surveys, dendroecological methods, and statistics. Broadly she is interested in biogeographic theory, dendrochronology, disturbance ecology, and conservation of biodiversity. Currently, projects include evaluating how climate and fire interact to affect growth of longleaf pines and exploring how patterns in physiognomy relate to fire-induced tree injury and mortality. Additionally, Nicole is a co-leader of the Longleaf Pine Tree-Ring Network and facilitator of the first African Dendrochronological Fieldschool. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Geography from Florida State University.

Andrew W. Whelan, M.S.

Senior Research Associate I

Andy Whelan works studies silviculture and longleaf pine forest restoration by combining both field and remote sensing techniques. He oversees collection and management of longleaf pine forest data, and participates data analysis and reporting. He is broadly interested in the effects of frequent fire on longleaf pine forest structure and ecosystem physiology. He earned his master’s degree with Drs. Robert J. Mitchell and Greg Starr at the University of Alabama where he used eddy covariance to study physiological ecology of longleaf pine forests.

Tanner Warren

Research Technician II

Tanner Warren is a Research Technician II for the Landscape Ecology lab. Tanner has worked at the Jones Center sinche 2014 and with the Plant Ecology, Conservation Ecology, and Forest Ecology labs. Tanner’s main research interests include forest productivity, longleaf-wiregrass ecosystem restoration, and resource conservation. He attended both Berry College and the University of West Georgia, earning a B.S. in Biology from UWG in May 2015.

Amber Johnson

Seasonal Technician

Amber Johnson joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in 2023 after graduating from Florida State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy. After gaining some experience through seasonal work, Amber intends to pursue a master’s degree in ecology. Her research interests include ecological disturbance dynamics, forested wetlands, and ecosystem restoration.

John-Michael Boyd

Seasonal Technician

John-Michael Boyd joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in 2023 after graduating from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with a B.S. in Natural Resource Management: Wildlife Resources. Prior to joining the Jones Center, John-Michael worked as a seasonal fire technician for Georgia Department of Natural Resources, he also worked for a tree service as a grounds crew member. He is looking to further his skill sets with future tech positions and seasonal opportunities. His research interests include habitat management and restoration, fire ecology, botany, herpetology, ornithology, & wildlife biology.

Current graduate students

Arthur Lamounier Moura

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Arthur Lamounier Moura is currently a PhD student at Auburn University. He earned his master’s degree in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management from Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Arthur’s research focuses on three major questions: (1) how fuel and overstory composition and structure affect flammability and regeneration in pine-oak mixed forests; (2) how fire return intervals influence the functional traits of regenerating mesophytes and pyrophytes; and (3) how understory community composition and flammability influence fire behavior in pine and hardwood dominated forests. Besides research, one of Arthur’s biggest interests is education.

Graduate Student Alumni

Andrew Arko, M.S. (2023)

Graduate Student (Mississippi State University)

Andrew Arko joined the Jones Center in September 2019 where he has worked with the Forest Ecology and Landscape Ecology labs. In 2021, Andrew began pursuing an MS degree at Mississippi State University with Dr. Austin Himes and Dr. Jeffery Cannon. Andrew’s research is examining spatial patterns of wind damage to inform ecological silviculture in longleaf pine woodlands. Andrew received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources and a GIS Certificate in Spatial Analysis from West Virginia University, and has worked for West Virginia University, Michigan State University and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Andrew is currently a Forester with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Luiza Lazzaro, M.S. (2023)

Graduate Student (Auburn University)

Luiza Lazzaro completed her MS at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science at Auburn University (AL) and working with Dr. Jeffery Cannon and Dr. Heather Alexander. She joined the Landscape Ecology Lab in 2021 and her interests include microclimate, regeneration, and legacy effects of longleaf pines and hardwood oaks. She received a BS in Environmental Science at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Brazil). Luiza worked for two years at the Instituto Florestal de São Paulo. Her internship was focused on chemical control of invasive palm trees in tropical forests and as a phytosociology technician worked with composition and structure of tree flora in forest fragments in Southeast Brazil. Luiza has continued her graduate education, and is now pursuing a PhD in the Kaye lab at Pennsylvania State University.

Chambers English, M.S. (2023)

Graduate Student (University of Georgia)

Chambers English coompleted his M.S. at the University of Georgia in the Dwivedi Forest Sustainability Lab studying the economic and hydrologic tradeoffs of restoration scenarios in the Southeast. Chambers is passionate about natural resource policy, land management, and their impacts on human communities. This work helped managers understand how different conservation practices improved hydrologic and economic outcomes. Chambers is now a Nature Based Solutions Associate at Milliken Advisors, a forestry consultancy in Columbia, SC.

Suzie (Henderson) Blaydes, M.S. (2022)

Graduate Student (University of Georgia)

Suzie completed her M.S. at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resource at the Unversity of Georgia where she is advised by Dr. Doug Aubrey and Dr. Jeffery Cannon. Suzie’s work will help managers better understand overstory pattern on fuel dynamics and regeneration success. Suzie aspires to raise greater awareness about the diversity and value of ecosystems like the longleaf pine forest through research and plant conservation as well as art. She holds a B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia (2018). Suzie recently became a new mother, and spends her time raising her newborn daugther, Joan.

George Jensen, M.S. (2022)

Graduate Student (University of Missouri)

George Jensen completed his M.S. project working Dr. Benjamin Knapp at University of Missouri and Dr. Jeffery Cannon at the Jones Center at Ichauway. His research focused on the influence of varying silviculture treatments on fire behavior and effects in longleaf pine ecosystems. George previously worked as a Conservation Biologist for the Wisconsin DNR, a burn crew member, and as a wildland firefighter out west on both a fuels module and helitack crew. George loves learning about how ecosystems are developed and working with the public to better educate on matters of wildfire, natural disturbance regimes establishment, and pollinator ecology. George is currently the Southwestern Georgia Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator at Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.

Cody Pope, M.S. (2021)

Graduate Student (University of Florida)

Cody conducted his MS research in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida under Dr. Ajay Sharma (UF) and Dr. Jeffery Cannon (The Jones Center). Cody’s work investigates longleaf pine community re-organization following Hurricane Michael. He joined the Jones Center at Ichauway in 2020 after graduating with a BS in Environmental Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is interested in forest responses to increased disturbance and stress in a changing climate, as well as the conservation and restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Cody currently serves as a Training Specialist with the Longleaf Alliance

Past Technicians

Emma Gwyn

Seasonal Technican

Emma Gwyn joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in January 2023. In the Spring of 2019, she earned her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Vermont with a focus in Conservation Biology and Biodiversity. Following her undergraduate degree, Emma served two years with ECO AmeriCorps in Vermont with both Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation and the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative. Emma comes to the Jones Center after a year of teaching outdoor, experiential, environmental education on Catalina Island in California. In the next few years, she plans on pursuing a master’s degree.

Zach McClure

Seasonal Technician

Zach McClure joined the Landscape Ecology lab as a seasonal technician in 2022, where he assists with establishing a long-term mapped research plot using LiDAR to better understand forest dynamics and fire ecology. Prior to joining the Jones Center, Zach worked on a burn crew ith the Nature Conservancy in North Carolina, served with the Montana Conservation Corps and the Student Conservation Association, and worked fro the Florida Conservation Corps as an AmeriCorps member focused on managing invasive plant species. Zach’s research interests include Fire Ecology & behavior, Mycology, and land management.

Brianna Mackey

Seasonal Technician

Brianna Mackey began as a Seasonal Technician in the Landscape Ecology lab in September 2022. Brianna is pursuing a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida. Brianna joins us from the lab of Dr. Ajay Sharma where she assisted graduate students and created and edited educational content. After completing her degree, Brianna intends to pursue an MS and eventually, a PhD in wildlife ecology and conservation. She hopes to build a career that involves endangered species and restoration work, and contributing to development of ethical (no-kill) methods for entomology research.

Chaella Valkenaar

Seasonal Technician

Chaella Valkenaar earned her B.S. in Biology from Georgia Southern in December 2020. Following a summer doing prairie plant surveys with the Missouri Department of Conservation, she joined the Jones Center as a seasonal research technician where she worked from 2021-2022. She leads a project to understand variations in loblolly pine crown architecture. Chaella’s research interests include fire ecology, large-scale disturbance, and invasive species management. In her free time she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and lifting weights. Chaella is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Florida

S. Hunter Scully

Seasonal Technician

Hunter worked with the Landscape Ecology Lab from 2020 – 2022 after graduating with a BS in Forest Resources & Conservation from the University of Florida. He has an interest in large-scale disturbances and their impacts on trees, forests, and the resources they provide companies and landowners alike. Hutner led a research projects on wind resistance in southern pine species with Dr. Chris Peterson (UGA) and Dr. Jeff Cannon (The Jones Center). In his down time, Hunter enjoys traveling with his fiancée and watching his hometown LSU Tigers football team. Hunter is currently pursuing an MS in Forestry at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.