Dr. Titus serves as the NRCM Program Coordinator, advisor to the Paul Smith’s College Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, and advisor to Paul Smith’s College’s Fish and Game Club. She is a conservation biologist with a focus on wildlife ecology, particularly amphibians and reptiles (though the occasional feathery or fuzzy creature works its way into her work). She has conducted extensive research on species conservation, habitat management, and environmental education.
Dr. Titus has a strong background in fieldwork and community engagement, working to bridge the gap between science and public awareness of ecological issues. She is also an advocate for diversity in STEM fields, mentoring young scientists and promoting inclusivity in environmental sciences. Her work often addresses the impacts of habitat loss on vulnerable species. Val has been an active member of The Wildlife Society, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and has served in many capacities for each organization.
She lives just down the road from Paul Smith’s College with her family and is living the Adirondack dream!
Academic
- PhD, Biology, Binghamton University, 2013
- Dissertation: Movements, Connectivity, and Management: Conserving the New York State Endangered Eastern Tiger Salamander
- M.S. Biology, Murray State University, 2006
- Thesis: Habitat Use and Road Mortality of the Copperhead Snake in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, KY
- B.S. Liberal and Professional Studies: Science and Society, Cazenovia College, 2001
Courses Taught
- NRS 120 Introduction to Natural Resources Management
- NRS 321 Hunting: History, Ethics, and Management
- FWS 270 Natural History of North American Vertebrates
- FWS 105 Introduction to Wildlife Management
- BIO 364 Ornithology
- BIO 366 Herpetology
- NRS 495 Integrated Natural Resources Management
- NRS 520 Ecosystem Services
- NRS 580 Research Design and Methods
- ENV 315 Environmental Law and Regulatory Process
- ENV 473 Wetlands Ecosystems and Management
- FWS 101 Introduction to Fish and Wildlife Management Labs
- SUS 555 Sustainable Development
Current Research Projects
Graduate Projects:
- Black bear (Ursus americanus) denning and potential trophic mismatch in the Adirondack Park
- Analyzing drivers of whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunter recruitment, retention and re-engagement in New York
- Spring soundscapes and risk: Differential playback responses of red fox, gray fox, and coyote across Adirondack land-use gradients
- Man-made Vernal Pools? Assessing Skidder Ruts as Potential Amphibian Habitat
Undergraduate Projects:
- Coyote (Canis latrans) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) interactions in the Adirondack Mountains of New York from camera trap data
- Scavengers and gut piles: What species in the Adirondacks might be at risk?
Chambers, C.L; C.M. Edgeley; R. Becdach; M. DeJong; M.S. Gunther; A.T. Morzillo; V.R. Titus; H.Y. Wan; C. Woodford; B.C. McComb, In review. Factors influencing publishing success in forestry journals. Journal of Forestry.
Becdach, R.E., K. Larson, K. Crouch, E. Meisman, A. Goldman, C. L. Chambers, M. DeJong, V. Titus, M. S. Gunther, and H. Y. Wan. 2025. A celebration and reflection on the equity trend between women and men in wildlife publishing. Journal of Wildlife Management 89:e22680. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22680.
Aplasca, AC, V.R. Titus, R. Ossiboff, L. Murphy, T. Seimon, K. Ingerman, W. Moser, P.P. Calle, J.M. Sykes. 2019. Health assessment of free-ranging chelonians in an urban section of the Bronx River, New York. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 55:352-362.
Robinson, C.J., S. McNulty, and V.R. Titus. 2018. No safe space: prevalence and distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians in a highly protected landscape. Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 13:373-382.
Titus, V.R., Foster, D. 2015. An incidence of twinning in Taylor’s cantil (Agkistrodon taylori) at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Herpetological Review. 46:371-372.
Titus, V.R., Titus, V.R.; Madison, D.; Green, T. 2014. The importance of maintaining upland forest habitat surrounding salamander breeding ponds: case study of the Eastern Tiger Salamander in New York, U.S.A. Forests. 5:3031-3048.
Titus, V.R., R.C. Bell, C.G. Becker, and K.R. Zamudio. Connectivity and gene flow among eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) populations in highly modified anthropogenic landscapes. 2014. Conservation Genetics. 15:1447-1462.
Augustine, L., V.R. Titus, and C.D. Foster. 2013. Color recognition as a management tool with a female Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. Herpetological Review. 44:445-447.
Titus, V.R., and T.M. Green. 2013. Presence of Ranavirus in green frogs and tiger salamanders in Long Island, N.Y. wetlands. Herpetological Review. 44:266-267.
Baumer, M., C.D. Foster, B. Casey and V.R. Titus. 2012. Successful incubation of Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) eggs at the Bronx Zoo using suspended incubation. Herpetological Review. 43:597-599.
Pramuk, J., V.R. Titus and J. Wagner. 2011. An effective method for transporting Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Herpetological Review. 42:532-534.
Madison, D.M., V.R. Titus and V.S. Lamoureux. 2009. Movement patterns and radiotelemetry. In. Dodd, CK., ed. Amphibian Conservation and Ecology: A Handbook of Techniques. Oxford University Press.
Johnson, A.J., A.P. Pessier, J.F.X. Wellehan, T.M. Norton, N.L. Stedman, D.C. Bloom, W. Belzer, V.R. Titus, R. Wagner, J. Brooks, J. Spratt, E.R. Jacobsen. 2008. Ranavirus infection of free-ranging and captive box turtles and tortoises in the United States. Journal of Wildlife Disease, 44:851-863.