Wildlife Ecology and Conservation department

Shelly A. Johnson

POSITION: State Specialized Agent in Natural Resources, UF/ IFAS Extension

APPOINTMENT: Extension 100%

Curriculum Vitae

http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/author/shellyjohnson/

Google Scholar

CONTACT:

PO Box 110485
UF Campus Bldg. 106
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: 352.294.0757
shelly.johnson@ufl.edu

EDUCATION:

PHD, University of Florida, 2015, Forest Resources/Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
MS, Northern Arizona University, 2008, Forest Wildlife Ecology
BS, University of Idaho, 1998, Wildlife Resources

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

State Specialized Agent, Natural Resources UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL
Biological Scientist II, Research & Extension, UF NFREC, Quincy, FL
Bat Biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lander, WY
Biodiversity Research Officer, Society for Environmental Exploration, Madagascar
Graduate Research Assistant (bats), NIFA McIntire-Stennis, Flagstaff, AZ
Biological Science Technician (songbirds), U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
Raptor Migration Bander, HawkWatch International, Manzano Mtns, NM
Spotted Owl Research Specialist, University of Minnesota, El Dorado, CA
Harpy Eagle Reintroduction, The Peregrine Fund, Las Cuevas, Belize
Macaw Project Assistant, Duke University, Tambopata Research Center, Peru
Veterinary Technician, Mobile Veterinary Services, Austin, TX
Wildlife Rehabilitator, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc., Boerne, TX

EXTENSION PROGRAMS (current, unless otherwise noted)

Natural Areas Training Academy
Nature Knowledge
FL Youth Naturalist Program
EmpowerU: Engaging with Decision-makers about Natural Resources
Bat Monitoring Citizen Science Project
Talk Nature with Me
FireScaping: Preparing for Wildfires
Florida Master Naturalist Program (2017-2020)

INTERESTS AND EXPERTISE:

Evaluation of ecosystem services and social value of wildlife. (Video)
Bat conservation, education, and habitat management. (Video)
Applied research and monitoring of terrestrial vertebrates in a variety of landscapes, using hands-on field and spatial techniques, and bioblitz coordination.
Environmental education and outreach aimed at attitude and behavior change towards wildlife and habitat conservation in youth and adults.
Building capacity to empower individuals in successfully communicating science-based information on natural resource issues.
Mentoring in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and management of wildlife in conflict.
Creating collaborations among UF researchers and external partners to benefit from community (“citizen”) science volunteers and centralize program coordination.
Training and support for Extension faculty (county/regional agents and state specialists) in wildlife ecology and natural resources.

MENTORING & STUDENTS:

I am joint faculty in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and maintain approved graduate faculty status with The UF Graduate School. Since 2017, I have mentored 7 undergraduate and 3 graduate students from numerous UF departments in various aspects of Extension as part of the federal-work study program, as student program assistants, and through the IFAS Extension Internship program. . I am currently on 2 graduate student committees (1 MS in School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatic Sciences, and 1 PhD in the School of Natural Resources and Environment). I am available to serve as co-chair or member on graduate student supervisory committees.

2022 LEADERSHIP & SERVICE POSITIONS:

Florida Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals – NE District Director
Florida Bat Working Group – Board of Directors
UF/IFAS Extension Roadmap Initiative III (Natural Resources) Leadership Team – Co-Chair
National Association of Interpretation – Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Gupta A, Meyer N, Prysby M, Johnson SA, Overholt GE. Submitted. Designing Social-Ecological Programs to Support Extension Participants in Civic Engagement. Journal of Extension.
Ober HK, Jones GM, Gottlieb IGW, Johnson SA, Smith L, Brosi B, Fletcher Jr. JW. 2020. Bat community response to intensification of biomass production for bioenergy across the southeastern United States. Ecological Applications 30(7): e02155. (https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2155)
Main MB, Ober HK, Johnson SA. 2020. Resilient structure of nature‐based extension programs facilitates transition to online delivery and maintains participant satisfaction. Ecology and Evolution 10(22):12508-12514. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6860)
Johnson SA, Ober HK, Adams DC. 2017. Are keystone species effective umbrellas for habitat conservation? A spatially explicit approach. Journal for Nature Conservation 37:47-55. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138117301401)
Johnson SA, Chambers CL. 2017. Effects of ponderosa pine forest restoration on habitat for bats. Western North American Naturalist 77(3). (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol77/iss3/7/)