 He received his Bachelor of Surveying, School of Surveying, University of New South Wales, Australia, in 1978
and his Master of Surveying Science, School of Surveying, University of New South Wales, Australia, also in 1987.He received his Ph.D. (Surveying Engineering) with minor in Economics from Department of Surveying Engineering, University of Maine, 1991 

He is a registered professional land surveyor in Texas, Maine, and Australia.Jeffress has been one of the original co-principal investigators of the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network since 1991, and held the Blucher Chair of Excellence in Surveying from 1990-1991.