Val Jo Anderson is from the small town of Ephraim, Utah, where he grew up on a family farm and was surrounded by the beauty of nature. His admiration for the great outdoors led him to plant and wildlife studies in his college career. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and his PhD from Texas A&M University.
Anderson is a professor of plant ecology and resource management at Brigham Young University and was the chair of the Plant and Wildlife Department from 2006 to 2012. His research has taken him throughout the world to places in China, Africa, and Australia. He has published several articles about ecosystems in academic journals.
In his free time, Anderson enjoys serving in his Church callings and participating in community theater.