The 2024 Dean’s Award recipients and retirees were recently honored with an awards ceremony and celebration. Since 1990, the Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement have recognized outstanding contributions by our community members that significantly advanced the mission of the College.
The award for outstanding achievement in Graduate Student Leadership went to Hunter Holeman. Hunter has worked tirelessly in his roles as Teaching Assistant and Society of American Foresters Student Chapter Chair and has consistently done so with a high degree of professionalism and organization. While working on the OSU Research Forests, Hunter was the student lead on implementing the Woodpecker Project which aimed to create a multi-aged forest structure. While in that role, he mentored additional student workers and helped to explain opportunities and challenges of managing the Research Forests for multiple uses and values. Hunter has also taught at Forestry and Natural Resources Extension’s Clackamas Tree School, reaching over 150 woodland owners across 9 field classes. Topics included Stand Density Management, Thinning Your Forest, and Uneven-aged Forest Management.
The Student Services team received the award for Fostering Undergraduate Student Success. The team includes Gina Cavanaugh, Brooke Harrington, Nicole Kent, Terina McLachlain, Hilary McMillan, Amy Riley, Kirk Robinson, Nate Scott, Morgan Shahan, Ruth Sterner, Joanna Tan and Beth Thompson. This team is a powerhouse of expertise, enthusiasm, innovation, and commitment, ensuring that our students are not only supported in their studies but also well-prepared for their future careers. They provide an invaluable foundation for student success through comprehensive advising, resource coordination, career preparation, and outreach efforts. And they do it all with empathy and consideration for student-lived experiences.
Sidney Perkin and Morgan Ward were recognized for outstanding achievement in Contributions as a Student Worker. Sidney’s nominator noted “she has gone above and beyond her expected duties since being hired in our analytical chemistry lab. Her exceptional progress in confidence, experience, and competence has been unmatched.” Morgan Ward is an undergraduate in Environmental Science, but has been instrumental in conducting work on fungal biodegradation projects in Wood Science, while simultaneously operating as a lab worker in Forest Ecosystems and Society.
The award recognizing outstanding achievement in the Mentorship of Graduate Students went to Andrew Merschel. Andrew’s nominator noted that “Andrew goes out of his way to help others with their own research and professional development. He serves on multiple graduate committees, has sought both funding and positions for future graduate students and assists in many side projects that students take on to develop both their technical and analytical skills.”
The Pauline Barto Award for Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion went to Eric Jones. Dr. Jones demonstrates exceptional commitment to DEI through his approach to teaching MNR 519: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Natural Resource Management. He creates an inclusive learning environment where students explore systemic barriers to DEI, develop ways to expand their cultural competency, and build awareness for practical DEI implementation in natural resource fields. His teaching approach combines DEI concepts with real-world applications, allowing students to develop projects relevant to their professional work.
The award for Outstanding Achievement in Distinction to the College went to Paul Van Wagoner and Andy McEvoy. Paul’s exceptional leadership of the College of Forestry’s Computing HelpDesk is a model of efficiency, responsiveness, and service excellence, and he also fosters a supportive learning environment for student employees. Paul consistently demonstrates technical expertise alongside remarkable interpersonal skills, ensuring that faculty, staff, and students receive prompt, knowledgeable assistance… with a smile and with concern for how you are doing as a person. Andy McEvoy has brought Distinction to the College through leadership in rolling out updates to Oregon’s wildfire hazard map. He has risen to the challenge of translating this science-based decision-support tool to the public, policy makers, and state agencies. Andy’s effort has been exceptional in response to this legislative request and in support of several state agencies, the Governor’s Office, and Oregon’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council. He continues to represent the College with the utmost integrity and steadfast adherence to science integrity through extreme external pressure.
2024 retirees that were honored were Hans Luh, John Nairn and Liz Cole. Hans Luh was with Forestry Computing Resources since 2002 and spent many years providing support for the LTER Project on the H.J. Andrews. John Nairn was a professor and Richardson chair in Wood Science and Forest Products, and adjunct professor of Mechanical Engineering since 2006. Liz Cole worked as a senior research assistant in the FERM Department since 1988.
