Keith McKnight

Prior to joining the Joint Venture staff, Keith worked with Ducks Unlimited where he served as a Regional Biologist responsible for coordinating conservation delivery projects in Texas and New Mexico. Prior to this he held several positions with DU at their National Headquarters to include serving as a Conservation Program Specialist, Manager of Conservation Programs, and ultimately as the Director of Conservation Programs.  In those positions, he led DU’s Ducks and More Program, supervised the National HQ GIS staff, served as DU’s staff support to the NAWCA Council, developed multi-scale international conservation strategies for shorebird conservation, and served in the capacity as DU’s liaison to national and international bird conservation plans to include PIF, NAWCP, and NABCI. In his early years, he spent some time teaching Ecology and Ornithology at Auburn University.

Keith earned a Ph.D. from Auburn University where he studied the ecology of wintering Gadwall and American Coot, and a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M where he studied wetland regeneration ecology on reclaimed mine land.  He works out of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department office located in Tyler, TX.  He is happily married to his high school sweetheart, and endeavors to keep up with his kids, three of whom still live at home.