• HOME

• Chapter Info

  • Chapter History
  • Chapter Bylaws
  • Membership Information
  • Officers

• Meetings & Archives

  • Chapter Meeting
  • Archives
  • CA Schulz Conservation Award
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

• Links

  • Fisheries
  • MSU Sub-Unit
  • USM Sub-Unit
  • Chapter Forms

Dr. Glenn Parsons (2021)

Dr. Glenn Parsons is a Professor of Biology at the University of Mississippi and Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, his master's degree from the University of South Alabama, and his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida. His research interests include fish physiology, biology and biomechanics. Notably, he has over 100 scientific publications including peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and reports. Through his groundbreaking interdisciplinary research efforts, Glenn has promoted the preservation, sound management, efficient industry, ethical treatment, and public awareness of Mississippi's aquatic resources. His research was grounded in conducting applied science that he took directly to federal and state resource managers to implement sound change in fishing practices or management levels to preserve our resources. His efforts have spanned the state's aquatic systems and species. Whether he was working on the swimming performance of freshwater fish (shovelnose, pallid sturgeon, channel catfish, silver carp), movement and energetics of paddlefish, the identification and characterization of shark nursery areas in the Mississippi Sound, reducing red snapper bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl fishery, or the use of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene leader to reduce shark bycatch in the tuna fishery, Glenn was always focused on the benefits of our state treasures. Glenn's dedication to applied research earned him a World Wildlife Fund Award for his work with on bycatch reduction in shrimp fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Such work has been important for making direct impacts to species captured as a result of commercial shrimp practices. Glenn is an internationally renowned and respected shark researcher. His early life history work on Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks conducting ageing with just a number 2 pencil was novel at the time and is still relevant today. Glenn has always been fascinated with answering interesting questions, which allowed him to diversify his shark research into such areas as stress physiology and energetics, bite force analysis, hydrodynamics of the hammerhead cephalofoil, and developing predictive models for shark attacks. In 2018 he was asked to testify before the U.S. Congress on Shark Fishery Regulations. In 2019, he was asked to give a TEDx talk on "Shark Conservation: Why You Should Care!" Over the years, Glenn has been an active contributor to the Mississippi Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and has served the Chapter in many capacities during that time. He served as President of the Chapter in 1999-2000 and provided the Annual Meeting Keynote Address in 2002 and 2018. He has brought up his 21 graduate students (6 PhD, 15 MS) in the society and they have been highly involved and contributing members as well; long after their matriculation from his lab. His investment in these young professionals has helped them to shine, and many hold high-level career positions around the region, contributing to fisheries research, conservation and management. It is apparent that Glenn has made conservation of Mississippi's natural resources a priority throughout his career, and the diverse contributions he has made to our knowledge of Mississippi's fishes are exceptional. Glenn's tireless work ethic and unique interdisciplinary approach to fisheries ecology and fish conservation are commendable.