Once A Tiger
Always A Tiger

Dr. Michael Mares is an explorer-scientist whose career redefined what it means to study life in some of our world’s most extreme environments. A global authority on desert rodent evolution, Mares has discovered many new species. He even has a rodent, a bat, and a parasite named after him! His fieldwork has taken him across the deserts of Argentina, Iran, Egypt, Inda, South Africa, and beyond, where he braved blistering heat, isolation, and danger in pursuit of scientific discovery. During one unforgettable expedition in Brazil’s vast swamplands, his team was low on food and fished for piranhas.

In recognition of his extraordinary achievements, Mares was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He has joined a distinguished group of honorees that includes Mickey Mantle, Will Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Gene Autry, Reba McEntire, Jim Thorpe, Hames Garner, and Paul Harvey, just to name a few. Mares is a proud FHSU graduate who continues to inspire a spirit of curiosity and discovery.