James Vonesh

English Second Language Instructor

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Richmond, Virginia, United States

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Timeline
About me
Professor|Assistant Director @ Virginia Commonwealth University, Center for Environmental Studies | PhD, Freshwater Ecology
Education
- Tropical Ecology Semester in Costa Rica
  1995 - 1995
  Tropical Ecology
  OTS 95-3 Graduate Field Program in Tropical Ecology
- University of Florida
  1999 - 2003
  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Zoology/Animal Biology
- University of Florida
  1994 - 1998
  Master of Science - MS Zoology
- Frank W. Springstead High School
  1984 - 1987
  Cum Laude
- Eckerd College
  1988 - 1991
  Bachelor of Science - BS Biology, General
  Activities and Societies: Eckerd College Earth Society (Founding member)
- Flanagan-Cornell High School
  1983 - 1984
Experience
- Takamatsu First Senior High School
  Aug 1991 - May 1994
  English Second Language Instructor
  St. Petersburg, Florida, USA and Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan Sister City Liaison and Conversational English Teacher
- University of Florida
  Aug 1994 - Aug 2003
  EPA STAR Fellow conducting dissertation research in Tanzania Graduate Teaching Assistant and conducting Master’s research at Kibale National Park, Uganda
  - US EPA STAR Graduate Fellow
    Aug 2000 - Aug 2003
  - Graduate Assistant
    Aug 1994 - Aug 2000
- Boston University
  Mar 2004 - Dec 2004
  Boston
  Boston University postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Karen Warkentin in the Biology Department but based at STRI in Panama doing fieldwork.
- Washington University in St. Louis
  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007
  Saint Louis
  Tyson Research Center Postdoctoral Fellow
- Virginia Commonwealth University
  Jan 2007 - now
  From 2007- 2017 I was a member of the the VCU Biology Department
  - Professor
    Aug 2017 - now
  - Professor and Assistant Director, Center for Environmental Studies
    Jan 2007 - now
  - Associate Professor
    Aug 2011 - Jan 2017
  - Assistant Professor
    Jan 2007 - Jul 2011
- Tropical Biology Association
  Aug 2007 - Sept 2007
  Instructor
  Instructor for Tropical Ecology field course at Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania
- Tropical Biology Association
  Nov 2014 - Dec 2014
  Instructor
  Instructor for Tropical Biology course in Madagascar
- Stellenbosch University
  Jan 2015 - Jul 2016
  Fulbright Fellow
  US Fulbright Scholar at the SA NRF Center for Invasion Biology
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
  Jun 2018 - now
  PI: NSF RCN “The River Field Studies Network”
- River Management Society
  Nov 2023 - now
  President, Southeastern Chapter
  This is a volunteer service position. The River Management Society (RMS) is the nation's premier network connecting those who work on and for rivers with their river professional peers, including outfitters and guides, rangers, planners and landscape architects, fluvial geomorphologists, environmental lawyers and policymakers, students, professors, researchers and authors. The President is responsible for overall communication with chapter members, contacting new members; coordinating two (2) Chapter events (with assistance from other officers and/or chapter members); representing the Society at regional events; appointing or electing State Stewards or sub-chapter representatives (optional); submitting quarterly Chapter updates for the Society newsletter; and organizing quarterly conference calls with Chapter officers and inviting the national President and Vice President.Society responsibilities: The President is responsible at the National Society level for attending national Society events; serving on the scholarship committee; participating in conference calls with the Board; attending Board meetings and providing a written report of Chapter activities to the Board at its annual meeting. Show less
Licenses & Certifications
- Becoming a Antiracist Educator Series - Level 1 Certificate - Higher Education
  Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education
  Apr 2023
  View certificate
- Undergraduate Field Experience & Research Network PLC
  NSF RCN-UBE UFERN
  Nov 2021
  View certificate
- Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute Fellow
  Virgina Natural Resource Institute
  Jun 2019
  View certificate
- River Rescue
  Sierra Rescue International
  Jul 2021
  View certificate
- AAAS Communicating Science Workshop
  AAAS
  Oct 2012
  View certificate
- Alda Science Communication Experience
  Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science
  Feb 2021
  View certificate
- NOLS Risk Management for Administrators
  NOLS
  Oct 2023
- CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
  SOLO Wilderness Medical School
  Jul 2021
- First Aid
  SOLO Wilderness Medical School
  Jul 2021
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Outdoor Leadership
  Greenfield Community College
  Nov 2021
Honors & Awards
- Awarded to James Vonesh
  Outstanding Contribution to the River Management Society Award River Management Society Dec 2020 This award recognizes contributions to the success of the River Management Society itself. This award recognizes contributions at the national or regional level that result in greater organizational effectiveness, efficiency, growth, positive change, or enthusiasm. The award focuses on impact on the organization as a whole, rather than a particular length of service. Please consider contributions in areas such as those listed below; nominees are expected to contribute in at least two of these… Show more This award recognizes contributions to the success of the River Management Society itself. This award recognizes contributions at the national or regional level that result in greater organizational effectiveness, efficiency, growth, positive change, or enthusiasm. The award focuses on impact on the organization as a whole, rather than a particular length of service. Please consider contributions in areas such as those listed below; nominees are expected to contribute in at least two of these areas.Exceptional contribution to national policy, planning, and program development that brings recognition to RMS as a leader among river and / or professional organizations;Demonstrated leadership within RMS that has created sustainable positive change;Donated considerable time, money, or effort that has resulted in advancement of RMS as a unique and robust institution; Brought new and positive private and public awareness of the RMS; Increased membership substantially; Provided exemplary service to the RMS through an elected office. Show less
- Awarded to James Vonesh
  Murray F. Buell Award for Excellence in Ecology Ecological Society of America Aug 2003 Dr. Vonesh was the recipient of the 2003 Murray F. Buell Award for his paper “Multi-predator effects across life-history stages: non-additivity of egg- and larval-stage predation in an African treefrog,” which is based on his doctoral research at the University of Florida. Murray F. Buell ascribed great importance to the participation of students at meetings and to excellence in the presentation of papers. To honor his dedication to the Ecological Society of America and to the younger… Show more Dr. Vonesh was the recipient of the 2003 Murray F. Buell Award for his paper “Multi-predator effects across life-history stages: non-additivity of egg- and larval-stage predation in an African treefrog,” which is based on his doctoral research at the University of Florida. Murray F. Buell ascribed great importance to the participation of students at meetings and to excellence in the presentation of papers. To honor his dedication to the Ecological Society of America and to the younger generation of ecologists, this award is presented to a student for the outstanding oral paper presented at the Society’s Annual Meeting. Show less
- Awarded to James Vonesh
  Thomas M. Frost Award for Excellence in Graduate Research Aquatic section, Ecological Society of America The Aquatic Section of the Ecological Society of America is pleased to sponsor the Thomas M. Frost Award for Excellence in Graduate Research. Thomas M. Frost was the director of the University of Wisconsin Trout Lake Station from 1981 until his death in 2000. His colleagues will remember him as a dedicated and creative scientist who brought a gentle, caring humanity to our endeavors. This prize, founded in 2001, honors his commitment to aquatic ecology and to graduate student education.… Show more The Aquatic Section of the Ecological Society of America is pleased to sponsor the Thomas M. Frost Award for Excellence in Graduate Research. Thomas M. Frost was the director of the University of Wisconsin Trout Lake Station from 1981 until his death in 2000. His colleagues will remember him as a dedicated and creative scientist who brought a gentle, caring humanity to our endeavors. This prize, founded in 2001, honors his commitment to aquatic ecology and to graduate student education. Graduate students and recent Ph.D. recipients (within two years of receiving the Ph.D.*) are both eligible for the Frost Award. The recipient will receive a plaque and a $500 cash prize.Awarded for the paper “Complex life cycles and density dependence: assessing the contribution of egg mortality to amphibian declines.” Oecologia 133:325-333 Show less
- Awarded to James Vonesh
  US Fulbright Scholar to South Africa US State Department Fulbright scholars to the Center for Invasion Biology at the University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa