Travis Maclain Bean

Travis Bean was born on February 11, 1977 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The family moved to Yuma, AZ in 1981 where he lived until graduating from Kofa High School in 1995. Travis then attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science in 2000 and a Master of Science degree in Range Management in 2002. His M.S. research addressed the problem of revegetation in desert climates.

Following his Masters, he held a number of positions in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, including Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Research Specialist, Senior Research Specialist, and Principal Research Specialist, 2002-2014. During that time, he was also working to complete a Ph.D. in Ecology and Management of Rangelands at the University of Arizona. His dissertation research addressed management of the invasive weed buffelgrass and he served as coordinator of buffelgrass eradication and outreach at the University of Arizona Desert Lab. His work on buffelgrass was recognized by a Public Service Award from the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and Environment and a United States Department of Interior Partners in Conservation Award. Travis earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Ecology and Management of Rangelands in 2014. 

Travis joined the Botany and Plant Science department at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 2014. Within a short time of his arrival at UCR, Travis established himself as a key member of the University of California “weeders” group. He immediately made an impact by addressing critical issues in California wildlands and provided much needed help to citrus and avocado growers. Travis’ research program was aimed at determining the safest and most effective means of managing weeds and his extension program communicated his expertise in weed science to an extensive clientele, providing them with practical advice for addressing weed management problems.

In addition to his university contributions, Travis was an active member of the California Weed Science Society, serving on the Board of Directors for two years, as secretary and vice-president. He was quite visible in the California Invasive Plant Council, a statewide organization focused on weedy plants in the millions of acres of non-crop land in the state, and was also the California board member to the Society of Ecological Restoration SouthWest chapter for two years. He was a statewide resource for invasive-plant management and restoration and wildfire prevention and recovery. His research and extension program ranged from the southern desert to foothill rangelands in the Sacramento Valley and included diverse topics ranging from weeds in the urban environment, citrus and avocado orchards, invasive rangeland grasses, rangeland restoration, and forage and fruit crops and general knowledge of herbicides and herbicide application technology. Travis was a great mentor to county-based CE Advisors where he guided and assisted CE Advisors and students.

Travis served a prominent role in guiding policy in weed control statewide. Within UC, Travis held leadership positions in several important UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Workgroups that serve clientele by hosting workshops and field days. Travis was a great contributor to weed research and extension in California and the western United States and his loss is felt greatly by his friends and colleagues at UCR and throughout the weed science community.

In his personal life, Travis liked the outdoors and felt most comfortable out in nature. He enjoyed hunting with friends and family. Travis was an avid reader for pleasure as well as for his profession. He was not afraid to try new things. He enjoyed brewing his own beer and wine, and roasting coffee beans. He also loved trying new foods and relished eating all kinds of different cuisines. Travis will be remembered as a family man. Although he lived in California, he regularly had long conversations with his mom, dad, and brother. They could talk about anything in life, from struggles to dreams of the future. Through laughter and tears, agreeing and disagreeing, there was always love and appreciation for one another.

Prepared from excerpts written by the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Yuma Sun Newspaper. Edited by Peggy Mauk, Loralee Larios, Patricia Springer, and Paul Nabity.