Mike has been involved with fisheries issues across the US for over a decade and is an assistant professor at Mississippi State University where his research further builds and refines the link of research, monitoring, and management. His research interests are broad, ranging from individuals to ecosystems, but linked the common theme of using research to inform management decisions and monitoring to further learning and reduce decision uncertainty. He is currently involved with projects evaluating alternative spring Chinook salmon translocation strategies, modeling support for Pallid Sturgeon recovery efforts, and statewide monitoring evaluations for Mississippi. Mike has served in AFS at all levels, as president of the Palouse student unit, webmaster of the Oregon and Iowa Chapters, president of the Student Subsection, and Western Division representative to the FMS. He received a Ph.D. majoring in fisheries resources from Iowa State University where his research focused on developing a lake ecosystem model to evaluate alternative management strategies on water quality and fishery yield. He received a master’s degree from the University of Idaho, and a bachelor’s degree from Unity College, Maine. He looks forward to continuing service to the section if elected as secretary-treasurer.