Always clear, engaging, and insightful.
Jessica Beckham is a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Biology, Health, and the Environment within the College of Sciences at the University of Texas at San Antonio, a position she has held since August 2017, following promotion from Lecturer II. As a Biology faculty member, she teaches courses including Environmental Systems I (ES 2013), Environmental Zoology (ES 1123), and Evolution (BIO 3323). Beckham earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of North Texas in 2016, with a dissertation titled "Influence of Urban Green Spaces on Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)." She also holds an M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Teaching in the Life Sciences from the University of North Texas (2007) and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (2005). Her academic career includes prior roles as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Texas Institute of Applied Science (2016-2017), where she assessed the distribution and taxonomic status of Bombus sonorus in Texas, and adjunct faculty positions at Southern New Hampshire University (2017-present) and the University of North Texas (2017). Earlier, she served as a secondary science teacher at L.A.S.A. High School in Austin Independent School District (2007-2010) and various teaching assistant roles at the University of North Texas.
Beckham's research focuses on the distribution, persistence, and habitat utilization of bumble bee species (Bombus spp.) in Texas, with emphasis on urban green spaces and spatial modeling of species like Bombus pensylvanicus, Bombus sonorus, and Bombus fraternus. Her key publications include "An updated understanding of Texas bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) species presence and potential distributions in Texas, USA" (PeerJ, 2017, with S. Atkinson), "The persistence of bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in northeastern Texas" (Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 2016, with M. Warriner, S. Atkinson, J. Kennedy), and "Molecular data support Bombus sonorus and Bombus pensylvanicus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) as distinct species" (2024). She has received honors such as the Outstanding Biology Teaching Assistant award from the University of North Texas (2014-2015), First Place President’s Prize from the Entomological Society of America (2013), and the Beth Baird Tuition Scholarship (2010-2016). Beckham serves on the Pollinator Garden committee at UTSA, contributes to the COS Faculty Champions program promoting citizen science, and speaks on topics including insect decline, native Texas bees, and Texas bumble bees.