Areas of Expertise: Ichthyology, Conservation Genetics
Dr. Anna George, Vice President of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium, was lucky to discover her love for water early in life, on a 7th grade field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Alabama. From that point on, her goal was to get underwater to hang out with fish as often as possible. During her undergraduate and graduate coursework in biology, she worked in both freshwater and marine systems to study the conservation, ecology, and evolution of fishes. Since joining the Aquarium in 2006, she has led research and education initiatives in biodiversity studies, species reintroduction, and habitat restoration to help conserve the incredible animals that live in the rivers and streams of the southeastern United States. Her enthusiasm for teaching everyone – scientists and non-scientists alike – about these river animals reflects her passion for protecting our own backyard. Anna has taught at Franklin & Marshall College, Mountain Lake Biological Station, the University of the South, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She has served on the Advisory Council for Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and the Board of Directors for Crabtree Farms.
Go-to Karaoke Song: “Friends in Low Places”
You Can Also Find Me: Paddleboarding or knitting
Education:
Ph.D., 2005, Saint Louis University (Biology)
Graduate coursework, 2000-2001, University of Alabama (Biology)
B.A. with distinction, 2000, University of Virginia (Biology)
Representative Publications:
George, A.L., M.T. Hamilton, and K.F. Alford. 2013.
We all live downstream: engaging partners and visitors in freshwater fish reintroduction programmes. International Zoo Yearbook 47:140–150. [link]
Kuhajda, B.R., A.L. George, and J. D. Williams. 2009.
The desperate dozen: southeastern fishes on the brink. Proceedings of the Southeastern Fishes Council 51:10-30. [link]
George, A.L., B.R. Kuhajda, J.D. Williams, M. Cantrell, P.L. Rakes, and J.R. Shute. 2009.
Guidelines for using propagation and translocation for reintroduction or augmentation (PTRA) for the conservation of southeastern fishes. Fisheries 34:529-545. [link]
George, A.L., D.A. Neely, and R.L. Mayden. 2006.
Conservation genetics of an imperiled fish from eastern North America, the Blotchside Logperch, Percina burtoni (Teleostei: Percidae). Copeia 2006(4):585-594. [link]
George, A.L., and R.L. Mayden. 2005.
Species concepts and the Endangered Species Act: How a valid biological definition of species enhances the legal protection of biodiversity. Natural Resources Law Journal 45(2):369-407. [link]