Tennessee Biodiversity Summit
Tennessee Biodiversity Summit Information
All wildlife enthusiasts, including students, researchers, and wildlife professionals, are invited to attend the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s inaugural Biodiversity Summit. Nature enthusiasts participating in this one-day summit will learn about current and past projects and research that protect the rich biodiversity of the state.
The event is scheduled for October 22nd, 2025, at Middle Tennessee State University’s Student Unions Grand Ballroom from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with options for lunch and networking.
Dynamic speakers will deliver presentations centered around this year’s theme, Tennessee’s Biodiversity: Past, Present, and Future. The goals of this event are to recognize the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) which strives to preserve, conserve, manage, and protect the fish and wildlife of the state and their habitats, and to recognize the work being accomplished across the state and beyond for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. Get A Biodiversity T-shirt to show your support.
• GENERAL REGISTRATION (For anyone other than a student)
• STUDENT REGISTRATION (Must bring proof of student status to the event)
*Educational vendors will be set up during the event.
*Interested in sponsoring or becoming a speaker at the next Tennessee Biodiversity Summit? Please reach out to Ashley.Garrison@tn.gov
Summit Agenda
All times are CDT (Central Daylight Time)
8:00 am: Doors Open, Continental Breakfast, Networking
9:00 am: Welcome: Josh Campbell, TWRA Chief of Biodiversity
9:15 am: Keynote Speaker: Roger McCoy, Director of Conservation, Finding and Enhancing Your Niche in Biodiversity
10:00 - 10:30 am: Break
10:30 am: Speaker: Bo Baxter, Director of Conservation Fisheries, A 35 Year Love Affair, Propagation and Reintroduction of Tennessee’s Imperiled Fishes
11:00 am: Speaker: Dr. David Aborn, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Migrating Into The Future Of Bird Conservation In Tennessee
11:30 am: Speaker: Dr. Matthew Niemiller, University of Alabama, Championing Amphibians and Cheering for Hellbenders
12:00 - 1:15 pm: Lunch and Special Announcement: Josh Campbell, TWRA Chief of Biodiversity
1:15 pm: Speaker: Dr. Emma Willcox, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Up to “Bat” for the Tri-colored
1:45 pm: Speaker: Parker Hildreth, TWRA, The Crayfish of Tennessee
2:15 - 2:30 pm: Break
2:30 pm: Speaker: Brittany Bajo-Walker, TWRA, A Bowl! A Button! A Bivalve! Tracing the Historical Uses and Ecological Value of Tennessee's Freshwater Mussels
3:00 pm: Speaker Josh Campbell: Chief of Biodiversity, TWRA, Securing the Future, Tennessee’s STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN
3:30 pm: Closing Remarks and Adjourn
Speakers
Keynote Speaker Roger McCoy
McCoy earned a bachelor’s in biology and an MS in plant biology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. For his graduate research, he classified vegetation communities and studied the effects of prescribed fire on a Research Natural Area on the Shawnee National Forest. After seasonal work with the US Forest Service and in noxious weed control in Weld County, Colorado, Roger began his career with TDEC as the rare species database manager with the Natural Heritage Program.
Today, in addition to being Tennessee’s State Naturalist, Roger serves as TDEC’s Director of Conservation, overseeing the Natural Areas Program, Natural Heritage Program, and Division of Archaeology where he works with others to guide TDEC’s conservation activities in site selection and management. He values being part of the Division of Natural Areas and assisting with rare species surveys and monitoring, being a member of TDEC’s prescribed fire team, and leading public outings on state parks and natural areas and at the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When Roger isn't at work, he's still in nature--canoeing, fishing, hiking, and posting about plants on his Instagram page @botanyroger.
Emma Willcox, PhD
Dr. Emma Willcox completed her Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Cardiff University, UK, in 2001 and her Master of Science in Conservation Biology from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK, in 2002. After working for the Frankfurt Zoological Society as an ecologist in Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, East Africa, for 2 years, she decided to pursue her PhD. She graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation in 2010, following which she worked for the University of Florida Extension Service. She joined the faculty in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee in 2012, where she is responsible for teaching a variety of classes for students in wildlife and fisheries science. Her research is focused on examining how mammals respond to anthropogenic stressors and the threats emerging infectious diseases pose to mammal populations, with a focus on bats.
David A. Aborn, PhD
An Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, David Aborn received his Bachelor of Science from Clemson University in 1985 and continued his education there, receiving his Master of Science in 1989. He later received his PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996. His primary interests are in bird migration, especially stopover biology, the process and consequences of habitat selection, and the effect of urbanization on bird populations.
Mathew L. Niemiller, PhD
Dr. Niemiller is an Associate Professor of Ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee. His research primarily focuses on the ecology, genetics, and conservation of subterranean life in North America, but also includes herpetofauna of the Southeastern United States with an emphasis on salamanders. Dr. Niemiller is a coeditor of the field guides The Amphibians of Tennessee and The Reptiles of Tennessee.
Bo Baxter
Bo earned a B.S. in Zoology in 1993 and an M.S. in Zoology in 1996, both from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville while studying under renowned ichthyologist Dr. David Etnier. For his Master’s thesis, he cataloged fish species in the Upper Cumberland River system in Tennessee. Bo worked with Conservation Fisheries on and off from 1989 to 1999 and, after a brief time with the Tennessee Valley Authority, returned for good in 2020. His career started with endangered fish propagation while working in the back room at Aquatic Specialists, an area in an aquarium store which would later become Conservation Fisheries. In addition to his work at Conservation Fisheries, Bo serves of the Editorial Board of Hellbender Press hellbenderpress.org and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Tennessee River Basin Network.
Josh Campbell
A Knoxville native, Josh Campbell began his career in 2003 at the Tellico Hatchery, assisting with the stocking of rainbow, brown, and lake trout in reservoir and tailwater fisheries from South Holston Reservoir to the Hiwassee River. He was promoted in 2005 when he began biodiversity surveys in Region II. In 2010, he was promoted to Biodiversity Coordinator in Region II, where he developed, implemented, and coordinated research projects and species surveys to assess species of greatest conservation need, determining where conservation actions would best benefit wildlife across the state. He currently serves as the Biodiversity Division Chief. He coordinates comprehensive planning governing the biodiversity work for the agency throughout the state regarding lesser-known species within fauna groups to include amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, bats, fish, mussels, and crayfish. He also maintains the State’s endangered and at-risk species lists, reports for survey and monitoring work performed under State Wildlife Grants, Endangered Species Section 6, and other grants. In addition, he directs field activities and personnel performing research, monitoring, and law enforcement.
Brittany Bajo Walker
Brittany grew up in southwest Michigan, where the Great Lakes and small streams sparked her love for all things aquatic. After completing her bachelor’s in aquatic biology from Grand Valley State University in 2017, she continued as a conservation technician for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where she worked with Boreal Toads, chytrid fungus, plains fishes, and even Greenback Cutthroat trout. Her interest in disease ecology then landed her a lab manager position with the salamander disease lab at the University of Tennessee. In 2019, she accepted a master’s position at Tennessee Technology Center, where she created a model for freshwater mussel habitat on the Duck River in central Tennessee. In addition to her thesis, Brittany had opportunities to contribute to mussel projects and publications expanding throughout Tennessee, Louisiana, and Missouri. After completing her master's, Brittany accepted the Assistant Freshwater Mussel Biologist position with Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources, where she not only spent many weeks in the field but also managed Virginia’s two freshwater mussel databases. In July of 2024, Brittany accepted the Statewide Mollusk Coordinator position with TWRA and moved back to East TN with her husband, Adam, and their three pets. She’s excited to be back and eager to work intimately with the river where her love for mussels really began, the Duck River.
Parker Hildreth
Parker is originally from the community of Dibrell in Warren County, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and his Master of Science in Biology from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Parker currently serves as the Crayfish Conservation and Research Coordinator with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. He has previously served as the interim state malacologist.
Sponsors
Golden Eagle Sponsorship Level
Greg A Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation
The Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation (VCNRC) at Cleveland State Community College houses the Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Agriculture programs. The aim of the center is to provide students with a quality education while affording them opportunities to attain real-world experience in their chosen field. The VCNRC employs innovative classes and state-of-the-art technology to immerse students in their field of study. The VCNRC is unique at the community college level in Tennessee and produces well-trained students who have transferred to senior institutions and then gone on to work for many different state, federal, and private organizations across the United States.
Silver Haired Bat Sponsorship Level
Bridgestone Americas
To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations, we, the Bridgestone group, are committed to continually working toward a sustainable society with integrity and in unity with our customers, partners, communities, and the world around us.
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is committed to clean air and a clean water supply for our region, as well as protecting its historical, cultural, and environmental resources. We take great care of our 293,000 acres of public land and 11,000 miles of shoreline on behalf of the people of the Tennessee Valley.
Bronze Darter Sponsorship Level
The Nature Conservancy
Since 1978, The Nature Conservancy has helped conserve over 450,000 acres across Tennessee. Discover how The Nature Conservancy is working with partners across the state to preserve and protect our incredible natural areas for generations to come.
K Gregg Conservation Communications
K Gregg Conservation Communications operates in support of nature, its beauty, its benefits, and what people can do to ensure sustainability. Gregg Elliott is a trained policy analyst with an ecological background and over 20 years of experience communicating on natural resource conservation.
*Interested in Becoming a Sponsor? Contact: Ashley.Garrison@tn.gov
Registration and Meals
Registration
Nonrefundable
General admission includes a light breakfast, lunch, and a snack: $50.00
Student admission includes a light breakfast, lunch, and a snack: $25.00
Registrations after October 1st will not include meals.
Registration WITHOUT LUNCH can be purchased at the event.
PLEASE REVIEW THE REGISTRATION.
GENERAL REGISTRATION (For anyone other than a student)
STUDENT REGISTRATION (Must bring proof of student status to the event)
Meals
Participants are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle.
Participants registering before October 1st will receive a light breakfast of pastries, coffee, a boxed lunch (wrap choice, salad, chips, cookie, and beverage), and an afternoon snack.
Other dining options include purchasing from several Union Building choices.
Show Your Support For Biodiversity in Tennessee
PURCHASE YOUR T-SHIRT IN SUPPORT OF BIODIVERSITY.
Registration does not include the purchase of a t-shirt.
Delivery options after October 1st will be shipping only. T-shirts will not be available for sale at the event. All proceeds directly support conservation in Tennessee.
All orders placed before October 1, 2025, will be picked up at the event; All orders placed after October 1, 2025, will be shipped to the customer directly, with customers paying any shipping fees.
