Brent E. Hendrixson

Brent E. Hendrixson serves as Professor of Biology at Millsaps University, where he teaches zoology, evolution, and field biology courses while fostering student curiosity about biodiversity through hands-on experiences rooted in his lifelong fascination with arachnids.

His academic foundation includes:

• B.A. in Biology from University of Northern Colorado (1999)
• M.S. in Biology from West Texas A&M University (2002)
• Ph.D. in Biology from East Carolina University (2006)

Hendrixson's research centers on arachnology, specializing in spider and scorpion taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography—particularly in the American Southwest. His field-based approach integrates evolutionary biology with invertebrate zoology to document terrestrial arthropod diversity, emphasizing habitat-specific adaptations in pine-oak ecosystems.

His publication trends reveal deep specialization in arachnid systematics, exemplified by his 2019 description of a novel Aphonopelma tarantula species from Mexico and his forthcoming Princeton University Press book on U.S. scorpions and tarantulas, highlighting consistent contributions to arthropod biodiversity documentation.

Notable honors include:

• Distinguished Professor Award (2018)
• Sabbatical Award (2017)
• Richard A. Smith Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2016)
• Excellence in Teaching Award (2015)
• Outstanding Young Faculty Award (2011)

As an educator, he prioritizes experiential learning in courses like Field Arachnology and Biogeography of the American Southwest, though specific student mentorship details are unlisted. His work on the Brachoria hendrixsoni millipede—named for his contributions—demonstrates taxonomic impact beyond arachnids.

Field expeditions form the backbone of his research methodology, with ongoing studies of arachnid distributions in southwestern U.S. ecosystems driving both current publications and future work.