Dr. Amanda Gilleland is a professor of Environmental Science and Biology at St. Petersburg College and an adjunct professor at Unity Environmental University. She earned a B.S. in Biology, a M.S. in Biology with a focus on thermoregulatory animal behavior and evolution, a Ph.D. in Environmental Science with a focus on ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife conservation, and a Ph.D. in physical Geography with landscape ecology focus. She has been teaching environmental science and biology classes in higher education for over 20 years. Her research background in ecology and environmental science has most recently focused on adaptations of urban exploiter species and suburban adaptor species and their interactions with landowners. Other field research studies have been on the human-wildlife conflict between livestock ranchers and pumas (Puma concolor) in the Patagonia region of southern Chile and the thermoregulatory behavior of Coragyps atratus and Cathartes aura.