After completing his undergraduate from Cornell University he spent 2 years in Swaziland with the United States Peace Crops. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. As a professor Dr. McCleery’s research has focused on understanding how wildlife respond to anthropogenic driven changes and maintaining wildlife communities and populations that foster healthy ecosystems. As part of his research he has published over 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and supervised 13 Ph.D. and 17 M.S students. He is the founder and co-director of the Savanna Research Center in Swaziland and was recently recognized as the University of Florida’s International Educator of the year.