I selected "Wilder: How rewilding is transforming conservation and changing the world" by Millie Kerr to mark my tenure and promotion because it beautifully captures the transformative potential of rewilding as a global conservation strategy - an approach that aligns deeply with my research, teaching, and service. My scholarship focuses on human-environment interactions, particularly through remote sensing and land change science, with a regional emphasis on southern Africa. I was honored to contribute to the understanding of ecosystem dynamics and vegetation change in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique - one of the world's most ambitious rewilding projects. My work is referenced in Chapter 1, "A Park for the People," highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of conservation and the importance of integrating ecological restoration with community engagement. Wilder not only showcases the science and innovation behind rewilding, but also offers a message of hope and collaboration that reflects the values I bring to both my scholarship and my classroom.

Recommended text for the UTCVM Clinical Pathology Course. We do not currently have an electronic copy of the newest edition.

Games, Gods and Gambling is a 1962 book by Florence Nightingale David that chronicles the history of probability and statistical ideas, tracing their development from early gambling practices to the Newtonian era. The book explores the contributions of key figures like Cardano, Fermat, and Pascal, and discusses the emergence of modern probability theory and its applications in various fields. The book incorporates elements from classics, archaeology, biography, poetry, and fiction to provide a broad and engaging history of the subject.

This is one of my Top 10 favorite books of all time. I purposefully chose a novel, because I hope that faculty and students will recognize the value in reading for pleasure sometimes. Additionally, I have read this book in its English-language edition and in Spanish, and it is just as beautiful in both languages.

As human development continues to test the limits of our planet, this book presents inspiring real-world examples of companies that embraced sustainability, not just as a compliance imperative, but as a strategic advantage. The book illustrates how reducing waste and rethinking operations can unlock new value for stakeholders, drive innovation, and position businesses for long-term success.

"I chose J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye for two deeply personal reasons. I first read it as an angst-ridden gay eighth grader growing up in a small Tennessee town in the 1980s - a time when I didn't yet realize that my thoughts, feelings, and struggles were shared by many other teenagers. This book made me feel less alone. When deciding which book to plate, this choice was obvious because of the profound difference it made in my adolescence - and because of the unusual way I gained access to it. In 1982, the novel sat on my middle school's Restricted Shelf, but since I worked in the library, I was one of the very few students allowed to check it out. In a school of 350 students, I alone was able to experience this life-changing story. That sense of revelation and connection has stayed with me ever since."

In honor of my dear friend and mentor, Dr. Ivan L. Berry, who passed away in 2014. Ivan spent many years with USDA-ARS (some in Nebraska) before joining the faculty at the University of Arkansas in 1985 and where I met him in 1990. I still miss his wisdom, sense of humor, and stories of screwworm eradication. Ivan introduced me to the works of Willa Cather, for which I am forever grateful.

This prescient book has stuck with me for years. It displays a depth of understanding of the many facets of human nature that I've never seen anywhere else.