Congratulations to Luke Klicka who successfully defended his MS thesis on the conservation genetics of the Bell’s Vireo. Luke studied the phylogeography of the Bell’s Vireo across its range using a combination of traditional and next generation sequencing approaches. His study provides the first genetic data for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo; thus, he was able to provide a modern assessment of its taxonomic status. Luke will soon begin working on his PhD in Rob Moyle’s lab at the University of Kansas and we wish him the best of luck!