How did you become interested in conservation biology, fire and landscape ecology? I’ve enjoyed the outdoors since I was very young, including summer camping trips with my parents and family, and that’s probably the start of my interests in conservation and ecology! The smells, sounds, seeing and feeling of being outside re-charge me. That family-recreational enjoyment of being outside started to build into a more formal interest with my first summer field job – monitoring painted turtles and snapping turtles in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. I loved the full-on days of field work and the focused observational nature of the work. It was the start of recognizing that I really enjoy the puzzles and process of research. My interests grew from that start in zoology to field studies in avian ecology, landscape ecology and entomology and fire ecology. I guess I have a generalist ecology spirit…aiming for a holistic ecological approach. In that generalist space, it’s becoming clear that fire touches all aspects of ecosystems and people in so many different ways – and that’s a motivating space to be in.
What are you currently researching? The lab group covers a lot of ideas and projects in the work we’re all doing together, all with an element of fire ecology and landscapes. I like to use the word “pyrogeography” for the work we do, since it brings together the idea of place, people and ecology all together as a social-humanities and biophysical study of fire. One topic that I’ve been working on for a while now is the concept of fire refugia. Fire refugia are locations on the landscape that burn at lower severity and provide important heterogeneity in ecosystems. In casual terms, I think of these parts of the landscape as moving in the “slow lane” of change. One example of the impact from that work is we’ve developed a suite of quantitative, predictive fire refugia models that are being integrated into vegetation management decisions and landscape project planning – I’m proud the work we’re doing is being applied by folks doing work on the ground. I’m also serving on the Northwest Forest Plan Federal Advisory Committee (FAC), contributing ideas and effort to modernizing federal forest policy for the region. This committee work has been amazing in the teamwork, learning and trust the FAC has built together, dedicated to a better future of forests and society in the region. I’m honored to be a part of that process.
What’s your favorite part about working with students? For me, working with students means learning with students. The most amazing part of learning together is seeing new perspectives and ideas, and supporting students in finding their path. What work you do is important, and even more so it’s important how you do it. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some pretty inspiring and amazing students over the years – and that includes folks in the lab group right now.
What do you like to do in your free time? Spending time with family and exploring! My husband Mark, and our ten-year-old twins Annabelle and Ben are my favorite people to spend time with. Whether it’s a weekend hike, cross-country pseudo-backcountry skiing, a drive to the coast, baking, puttering in the garden or family movie night – that time with family is what keeps me going.
What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title? Quite honestly, I don’t get much time to read for fun these days, but nighttime reading with the kids is still a real treat. We’re reading “Swallows and Amazons” now in that wonderful bedtime ritual, and have gone through the “Harry Potter” sequence, and recently some kids history books that have been fun.
Yes, Meg and her family all have red Madshus skis, they aren’t rentals!
What do you enjoy most about working as the Recreation and Engagement Program Manager within OSU Research Forests? I love so much about my job. One constant highlight is being able to help people form special connections to the forest. Seeing a family laugh and enjoy our Forest Discovery scavenger hunt; watching a dog excitedly bound up the trail; waving to an equestrian walking along the road; cheering on the youth mountain bike team. Witnessing all the ways in which people enjoy and benefit from nature – and knowing that I can be of service in helping to make it happen – makes the work I do feel especially meaningful.
I also love working with such a hard-working and kind team of Research Forest staff. Everyone here is very humble and dedicated to their work, which motivates and inspires my own professional growth.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time in the COF? This is a hard one. I have so many great memories. Not surprisingly, I favor time spent outside. I especially love helping with forest tours. There is a subtle but significant change I’ve witnessed in people after meeting with them among the trees. Typically, at the beginning of any tour, people’s shoulders are a bit tensed, they are quiet, maybe a little fidgety and distracted. But by the end of the tour, people are noticeably more relaxed, smile more, curious and grateful. There is something very impactful about bringing people together outside that beats any phone call, Zoom or conference meeting.
What do you like to do in your free time? I love to spend quality time with my family and friends. My husband Marshall and I have two sons, a two-year-old and a five-year-old, so they keep us plenty busy and endlessly entertained. I love reading everything under the sun, gardening, hiking, journaling and exploring new places. I’ve been trying to get into trail running with minimal success – I keep telling myself the runners high will come eventually, right?
What is your favorite tree? For a long time, I would have said aspen tree because I grew up in Colorado and have always loved their glimmery coin-like leaves. But honestly, I think the winner goes to the ponderosa pine. In fact, our older son Oren’s name means pine tree. I love its resiliency and hardiness, and I associate it with that dry, high alpine aesthetic that I have such a core fondness for.
What’s your favorite book or movie genre or your all-time favorite title? I have several favorite books! I consider them my favorite because I’ve read these books more than once (I rarely read books more than once) and I think about them often. The genres are a bit all over the place but they are: Angle of Repose, Jane Eyre, Mists of Avalon, the Earthsea Trilogy, Middlemarch and Endurance.
What do Oregon White Oak, Truffles, Rodents and a Golden Retriever have in common?
Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) savanna and woodland were once widespread in the Willamette Valley but are now considered endangered habitats1. The decline of both has been attributed to agricultural expansion, fire suppression, and invasive species. The Oregon white oak is a biodiversity workhorse and has been providing habitat for hundreds of wildlife species for millennia2. This species has spanned the test of time because of its drought tolerance and fire resiliency, but also because it can handle seasons with high rainfall. However, even the persistent Oregon white oak needs a hand in long-term survival.
Oak trees, like many other trees in our region, depend on partnerships with ectomycorrhizal fungi for enhanced nutrient and water uptake. In this partnership, the fungi increase the uptake of water and nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, by attaching to and extending the tree’s root system. Through photosynthesis, the tree supplies the fungi with carbohydrates. The Oregon white oak forms these partnerships with over 40 different species of fungi3, many of which are known as truffles!
Genea sp(Photo credit: Heather Dawson)
Truffles are a type of mycorrhizal fungi that develop fully underground. While mycologists may disagree, these spherical fruiting bodies are not nearly as showy as the fungi that produce the colorful and often unusual above-ground fruiting bodies currently dazzling popular culture. What truffles lack in appearance, they make up for in smell. More on smell later…
Truffles uniquely rely on animals for spore dispersal. This can happen in two different ways: 1) they are kicked to the surface by an elk or deer passing by, or 2) they are consumed by a rodent, bear, or whatever else fancies a fungal treat. In addition to occupying an important partnership with oak trees, truffles also serve as a major food source for wildlife.
Rodents: the unwitting truffle farmers
Rodents, such as mice and voles, consume large amounts of truffles and pass the spores through their systems unscathed. These animals are highly attuned to the scent of truffles, digging them up and consuming them as a food source. In the messy process of eating, they spread fungal spores across the forest floor. More remarkably, the spores of truffles are still viable after passing through the rodent digestive system. Rodents love eating and defecating truffles so much, they may actually aid in the habitat expansion and seeding survival of Oregon white oak in our savannas and woodlands! Oak acorns are often carried away from the parent tree by birds or squirrels and often land outside the parent tree root zone, meaning no access to mycorrhizal fungi. One hypothesis for oak seedling survival in these cases is that rodents are dispersing incredible amounts of truffle spores through defecation while running from tree to tree.
Enter Rye, the Golden Retriever
There are hundreds of native truffle species in Oregon, but only a handful are of culinary value (Tuber oregonense, T. gibbosum, Leucangium carthusianum, Kalapuya brunnea). While we know a bit about these culinary species from only very recent DNA sequencing and ecological research, they are not the species found in Oregon white oak fungal partnerships. There’s an entire new world of truffle species that associate with oak trees and we have barely scratched the surface. In fact, we’ve barely scratched the surface on fungi in general!
Meet Rye the golden retriever. When Rye is happily wagging his bushy tail, he smells something interesting under the soil’s surface. Rye is Heather Dawson’s truffle biodiversity dog, which means he surveys all species of truffles instead of being limited to the few species of culinary and economic value. Heather Dawson, a PhD candidate at University of Oregon, is studying the diversity of Oregon white oak associated truffles and the dietary preferences of truffles amongst our native small mammal community.
Rye the golden retriever hunting for truffles(Photo credit: Heather Dawson)
Rye is Heather’s second truffle dog and while he’s been trained with culinary truffles, he continues to expand his smell library and frequently calls attention to new smells. Heather wondered if he gets bored of the common truffle species at a site and starts keying into new smells, which range from “canned corn and tomato paste” to “burning brakes” to “sunscreen”. Some of the samples Rye has collected will likely turn out to be undescribed species and will help to unravel the story of truffles in the Willamette Valley.
The Bigger Picture
While the rodents undoubtedly recognize the array of oak associated truffle smells we are only beginning to learn about, Rye and Heather are doing the work to catch up. Heather plans to collect small mammal fecal material by setting up live traps and humanely capturing and releasing them, noting their species. Fungal spores in the fecal material will be DNA sequenced along with Rye’s truffle treasures. Heather also plans to collect and DNA sequence mycorrhizal fungi from soil cores and root samples from her Oregon white oak savanna and woodland sites.
In order to protect Oregon’s endangered oak savannas and woodlands, we must understand all parts of the ecosystem. Most oak ecosystem research has focused solely on plants and animals, with little knowledge of what role fungi plays in maintaining this charismatic system. Heather and Rye’s work will catalog truffles that support a biodiverse landscape, home to hundreds of birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
Sources
Vesely, D. G., & Rosenberg, D. K. (2010). Wildlife conservation in the Willamette Valley’s remnant prairies and oak habitats: A research synthesis. Interagency Special Status Sensitive Species Program, US Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management, Portland, OR.
Hosten, P. E., Hickman, O. E., Lake, F. K., Lang, F. A., & Vesely, D. (2006). Oak woodlands and savannas. Restoring the Pacific Northwest: the art and science of ecological restoration in Cascadia, 63-96.
Frank, J., Barry, S., Madden, J., & Southworth, D. (2008). Oaks belowground: mycorrhizas, truffles, and small mammals. In: Merenlender, Adina; McCreary, Douglas; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. eds. 2008. Proceedings of the sixth California oak symposium: today’s challenges, tomorrow’s opportunities. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-217. Albany, CA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: pp. 131-138 (Vol. 217, pp. 131-138).
On March 6, the College of Forestry is hosting a coffee in honor of International Women’s Day! It will be held in the George Peavy Forest Science Center atrium (3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331).
Speakers
Ashley D’Antonio Ashley D’Antonio is an Associate Professor of Nature-Based Recreation Management, Gene D. Knudson Forestry Chair, and Associate Department Head in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. She is a recreation ecologist, and her research is very applied. It focuses on helping park and protected area managers understand how to mitigate and manage disturbances from outdoor recreation to meet both visitor use and conservation goals. Dr. D’Antonio teaches undergraduate courses in parks and protected area management, outdoor recreation management, and planning for sustainable recreation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, knitting, and hanging out with her two cats.
Mindy Crandall Mindy Crandall is a native of Otis, Oregon. She received an associate’s degree from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, and a bachelor’s in forest management from Oregon State. She has worked as a dishwasher, hotel housekeeper, GIS technician, prep cook, and advocate at a domestic violence prevention agency. After returning to OSU for a PhD in Applied Economics and Forest Resources in 2014, she was an assistant professor at the University of Maine for 5 years before returning in 2020 for her dream job. Her free time is spent reading, traveling, knitting, feeding pets, and bugging her grown sons to learn to identify trees.
Holly Ober Holly Ober serves as Associate Dean for Science Outreach & Program Leader for Forestry and Natural Resources Extension (way too many words for a job title!). She earned a BS in biology, MS in wildlife ecology, and dual PhD in forest science/wildlife science. Her passion for research and sunshine led her to a faculty position in Florida with a research component. In this position she found true inspiration in the responsibilities she knew nothing about at the time she applied – Extension. After 14 years as a wildlife Extension Specialist, she was offered an opportunity to transition to Extension Administration, and a few years later this provided the chance to move to her present job at OSU. This career path was shaped by serendipity and a series of inspirational role models.
Tabling Participants
College of Forestry International Programs In alignment with the College of Forestry’s overarching commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the International Programs Office aspires to create a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for OSU students going abroad, international students coming to COF and for our visiting faculty, researchers and partners.
We have about 72% women-identifying participants on our outgoing study abroad programs (above the national average of 67%). In addition, we make sure that our students feel safe and uplifted; many going abroad for the first time. On the itineraries, we prioritize diversity in our guest lecturers and visits so that students are able to see representations of themselves in the real world
As interns, we’ve sent young women to study bioluminescent mushrooms in Brazil, report on fire ecology on the Spanish coast, track primate conservation in Malaysia, and more.
Students on a faculty-led trip to Borneo. Photo by Rachael Fahrenbach
In addition, our office supports many incoming scholars and students, some of whom bring families and the need to integrate into the Corvallis community. We help forge community connections for our college members with organizations like the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center and the International Moms Group.
International Moms Group The mission of the International Moms Group (IMG) is to educate, empower, and encourage international mothers on their parenting journey. It is a group committed to creating a space for belonging, cross-cultural engagement, empowerment, and resource sharing for both OSU-affiliated and community-based international families. IMG provides weekly engagement opportunities for international moms and their children at the Orchard Court Family Housing Community Center. IMG meetings offer space for moms to meet and build friendships, share their cultural traditions, and learn critical information for navigating life with their families here in Oregon.
Featured community partners present on a variety of informational topics, such as “understanding mandatory reporting” (ABC House), “dealing with post-partum depression and pregnancy loss” (Community Doula Project), and “navigating healthcare” (Benton County Health Department).
IMG also offers a variety of activities outside of the weekly meetings such as venturing out into the community on field trips and gathering for potlucks. Additionally, IMG offers two additional cross-cultural, peer-to-peer engagement opportunities: Moms Crossing International Borders, which pairs domestic and international moms for conversation and playdates, and American Thanksgiving, which pairs international and domestic families for a holiday meal. IMG also cultivates leadership pathways for international moms to present at weekly meetings, to do peer outreach, and to serve on the leadership team in charge of planning IMG programming.
Oregon Women in Timber Oregon Women in Timber was founded in 1978 to support the forest sector through education. Since 1991, OWIT’s pre-K to 8th grade Talk About Trees program—which provides trained facilitators and an age-appropriate, science-based, state-approved curriculum to all Oregon schools, free of charge—has reach nearly 4 million Oregonians. Alongside its ongoing support of TAT, OWIT’s educational advocacy and outreach has evolved along with the make-up of its membership. OWIT members are foresters, mill workers, loggers, teachers, truck drivers, administrative professionals, landowners, and a diverse array of people who value and support science-based forestry education for all Oregonians. From kids in the woods days to career fairs, social media to our Women Who Know the Woods video series, landowner education events to a full-on celebration of October as Forest Products Month, OWIT is proud of its nearly 50 years of being an all-volunteer, statewide non-profit dedicated to “creating awareness and appreciation for the value of trees” and increasing “understanding about the protection, management and conservation of the renewable forest.”
The Paulines (College of Forestry student club) The Paulines are a club named after Pauline Barto Sandoz, the first woman to graduate from the College of Forestry. We are a club focused on empowering women, womxn, gender minorities, underrepresented demographics, and allies in the College of Forestry and broader Natural Resources fields as students, faculty, or community members associated with Oregon State University.
Women in Forest Management Women in Forest Management (WIFM) is an organization that exists to empower and connect women and those that support them. This group is for anyone working in all aspects of forest management as well as all forest management objectives. In the future, we will be planning and promoting events that provide professional development, training, networking, and mentoring opportunities for women and their allies in forest management, including an annual conference.
WIFM is not a group exclusively for women. While we focus on promoting networking and development opportunities for women in the profession, we also aim to support and learn from all individuals who champion women in forestry. We believe that each individual’s diverse perspective, shaped by unique experiences, is vital to achieving shared goals and fostering collaboration within the industry.
Women Owning Woodlands Network The Women Owning Woodlands Network (WOWNet) was founded in 2005 in Oregon to create a space where women woodland owners could connect, learn, and actively participate in forest stewardship. Initially started by a group of women, the network emerged as a response to women’s lack of representation and engagement in traditional forestry spaces.
WOWNet provides workshops, peer learning opportunities, and hands-on training in chainsaw training, forest management, and land stewardship. It also fosters community through events like nature walks, virtual book clubs, and seasonal gatherings. The network aims to empower women by building confidence, promoting leadership, and creating a supportive environment for landowners at all experience levels.
With over 150 newsletter subscribers and growing, WOWNet continues to expand across Oregon, ensuring that more women have access to the knowledge, resources, and community needed to manage their woodlands successfully.
Patricia Vega has studied and worked in the field of forest science and engineering for over 20 years. Today, she works as the managing director of the Wood-Based Composites Center with the director, Arijit Sinha and co-director, Chip Frazier. The WBC is an industry supported cooperative research center devoted to researching wood-based composites and renewable materials that comprises Oregon State University, Virginia Tech University, Auburn University and Michigan State University. At the center, Vega spends most of her time supervising the research program and facilitating what she calls the “research life cycle,” including the yearlong process and collaboration between industry and researchers.
In addition to this cycle, she asks questions of the center itself, such as where it should go, how it’s evolving and what the industry trends or changes are that the WBC wants to be one step ahead of. In 2024 the WBC celebrated its 25th anniversary, centered on celebrating the collaboration of industry and academia. Over 120 students have been a part of the center since its creation in 1999 and nearly all are currently working in the wood industry and academia. In the past three years, 100% of WBC’s students have been hired by WBC industry members.
Part of Vega’s role, along with the other directors, is to help facilitate and connect companies with WBC students. As a result, students receive mentorship and connections to industry professionals. In addition to direct support, the WBC offers webinars and workshops to all four WBC university partners on how to effectively present research and communicate to industry.
“In industry, you often only can present one to three slides, and you usually have five minutes max,” Vega said, explaining how this type of presentation differs from academia. “You need to be impactful…and convince and communicate to people who are not familiar with the technicalities of what you do.”
In addition to working at the WBC, Vega is passionate about getting kids, especially girls, involved in wood science. She noticed that girls, especially those that look like her, do not always see themselves in science. Vega, in collaboration with other faculty across campus, has participated in Juntos — an OSU program that works to provide pathways to higher education for Latinx students — to give workshops to elementary, middle and high school students.
“We were playing with fungi and microscopes, I was wearing my lab coat, and a girl speaking Spanish asked me if I was a scientist and I said yes,” Vega said, recalling one workshop with middle schoolers. “She said ‘no that’s not possible, because you speak Spanish.’”
That interaction had a profound impact on Vega, revealing the significance of her work and inspiring her to teach kids about the field of wood science and its potential as a career. As woodworking programs are increasingly being removed from high schools, Vega noted her emphasis on incorporating STEM principles into the workshops to show the importance and contribution it can have to education goals.
“We incorporated biology, chemistry and math,” Vega said. “We talked about the wood’s physical and mechanical properties and related it to whatever they were learning in class.”
Vega explains that when kids and teens have the opportunity to engage with wood science, it leaves a lasting impression. They begin to see it not just as a subject, but as a viable career path. She emphasized the importance of this, noting that many perceptions of the industry are often far from reality.
“When you say wood industry, immediately people think of bearded men carrying giant axes,” said Vega. “That’s part of it, but what they don’t think about is sophisticated robotic systems, advanced scientific research and the amazing women who are foresters and wood scientists.”
She highlighted the ongoing efforts to promote the WBC to women, including sharing GRA position announcements with Women in STEM clubs. Despite these initiatives, however, men continue to apply in much higher numbers than women. Drawing from 25 years of data at the center, Vega pointed out the fluctuating trends in female applicants. In the past two years, only men have applied, which she sees as the “down” phase of the cycle, with these shifts typically occurring in three-year intervals. Based on this pattern, she predicts that the center will see an increase in female applicants in 2025. They are already starting to see this, with three new female students this year.
“A majority male student population completely reflects the industry,” she said. “But that is something we are striving to change.”
With support from faculty and industry professionals at the WBC, she is planning new activities empowering women in the industry. She hopes that this will help create a space at the center where women, specifically those in the wood products industry, can talk about challenges they face and how to create positive change. This space to create change at the WBC, and through working at OSU, is one of the things she loves most about her job.
“This is among the best colleges in forestry…so that means that the world is looking at us,” she said. “And that has also given me an important platform to have my voice heard in my home country of Peru.”
Through her work with WBC partner universities, she aims to inspire students from her home country of Peru and across the globe and demonstrate that wood science is a rewarding and accessible career in science. Just as her mother inspired her to pursue science and always strive for more, Vega hopes to inspire the next generation of students.
“Sometimes they think it’s out of reach,” she said. “But you never let anything stop you. You just find a way and keep going.”
What do you do as a Curriculum and Accreditation Coordinator and what is your favorite part about your work? I am my department’s go-to contact for all things curriculum-related. I oversee our graduate program, Sustainable Forest Management, schedule all FE and FOR courses and manage the ABET and SAF accreditation processes for the Forest Engineering & Forestry undergraduate degrees. I love that my role gives me the opportunity to work with students, staff and faculty every day, which means that each day is likely to bring its own adventure and require unique action on my part.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time working in the COF? See, having worked here as long as I have, there are a lot of memories to choose from! It’s a toss-up between having colleagues help with my wedding (John Bailey officiated and Jessica Fontaine helped coordinate it), taking part in outrageous Halloween costumes with my FERM team (the colonial men will always be my favorite) and getting the opportunity to travel to Sweden last summer.
What do you like to do in your free time? When I’m not up to my eyeballs in homework (yes, I’m working towards a master’s degree), I love to read and take a lot of camping trips with my husband, pups and family throughout the year. The last few years we’ve been trying to visit at least one national park (or really cool landmark) a year. Going on a night-time kayak float with manatees in Florida and having bears in our campsite near Glacier, Montana are some of the memories that have really stuck with me so far.
Madison and her partner John at Drottningholm Palace, in Sweden, for the International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would you use it? As a sister who was exposed to Marvel and DC by her older brother and who is a nerd for anything magical or mythology related, you’d think I would know exactly whose powers I would steal…Chronokinesis is so cool to me – the ability to manipulate and control any element of time. But Azazel from the X-Men comics is probably who I would want to be. He can teleport, shapeshift, use telepathy and is immortal. Do I want to live forever? No. But I think it would be so great to teleport because I would always be on time. Being telepathic would also make me a pretty valuable (and only slightly dangerous) colleague!
What’s your favorite book or movie genre or your all-time favorite title? I love comedies and romance, both in books and movies. “Young Frankenstein” is easily in my top five movies of all time, right up there with “What Dreams May Come” and “The Wedding Date”. That said, there are few movies that I watch religiously every year. Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings series are definitely favorites…even though the books were better.
Tell us a little about your background – what drew you to working with International Programs at COF? I am Rabeb, Tunisian, former university teacher of English literature and civilization, as well as a simultaneous interpreter with three active languages. I came to Corvallis, Oregon three years ago and fell in love with the open position at COF. Working closely with students and faculty, smoothing out processes and bridging between cultures are all I could possibly dream of in my job.
What is your favorite part about working with students? That excitement I see in their eyes when they are applying for an international experience. These moments when I can share my experience or others’ experiences to help them navigate cultural and social differences are priceless. It is worth every minute I spend with them answering their questions, facilitating visa processes and doing research to help them.
What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to so far and is there any place you currently have on your bucket list? I wouldn’t say I have traveled the world, but I visited some places and they are all breathtaking. The one that marked me the most is Portugal with those unique mosaic pavements and historical buildings. The community is amazing, and the food is absolutely delicious! The other is Corvallis. Of all I could imagine the U.S. would be, Oregon stands out. I’ve been to other states before I finally settled down here, but my experience in Corvallis is awesomely different. Nature, the community and the joie de vivre in Corvallis is by far the best. There are still so many places I’d love to visit, namely other states around the Pacific, Asia and Australia.
What do you like to do in your free time? I cherish peaceful moments with my family – bathing in a hot tub, swimming, hiking in nature, reading good books and cooking.
What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title? This is probably the most difficult question! I have read many books, and each one marked me differently. I particularly love the writing style and witticism of J.M Coetzee and Jamaica Kincaid. In movies, I truly like any movie with a message or some food for thought, far from vulgarity and commonplace.
Tell us a bit about your background and where you consider home to be. I am originally from a small town called Nashville, NC (not the big one), though I consider Athens, GA my home.
What drew you to working with the College of Forestry and Career Development? My position is unique in that I have split responsibilities: 50% advising and 50% teaching. I get the most joy out of helping students, and I love that I get the opportunity to aid students in multiple ways through my job. I also get to create events and work with a variety of stakeholders (students, alumni, employers, faculty, etc.). I love that my role connects a broad audience to help students succeed in life after college.
What is something you want every student to know (about you and/or generally)? I want students to know that OSU provides a vast array of resources to help them be successful during their time at OSU and beyond. Take full advantage of all faculty, staff, clubs, organizations, programs, resources, etc. to reach your goals.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career? My biggest influence has definitely been my mom. My mother has always inspired me to work hard and empowered me to chase my dreams. Along with my wife, my mother also has given me the support and confidence that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
What do you like to do in your free time? I love playing basketball. It’s by far my favorite sport and my top hobby. I also like cycling and hanging out with friends and family.
Did you know that 23% of College of Forestry undergraduate students are the first in their family to attend college? In addition, many of our graduate students, faculty and staff were also first-generation students. They persevered through challenges and bring important perspectives that help many COF students today.
We had the privilege of hearing from three first-generation members of the COF community. They share with us the importance of resilience and remind us that education holds power for personal and community transformation. Cathy Knock, director of budget and compliance for the college, began her story by sharing that her life circumstances were intertwined with her journey towards higher education as a non-traditional student.
“I went back to school to earn my first degree when I was 34, newly divorced, and a single parent to two small children,” she said. “It was literally starting from scratch…a new town, new school for my oldest, new daycare for my youngest, and trying to do it all with virtually no support. And since no one in my family had ever gone to college, I didn’t really have anyone I could ask for guidance. So, I had to figure it out on my own.”
She said that the strength to overcome these challenges came from the belief that earning a college degree would create opportunities for her and move her family toward financial security. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree, she continued on to earn a master’s degree while working full-time.
“That also was a struggle, but the end result was worth it,” she said. “I learned that I could do really hard things and that I was resilient. Once I set my mind to something, I can make it happen.”
Knock was not alone in having to navigate university systems by herself. Allison Monroe, a master’s student studying overlooked insect species and their ecological impact in the college’s forest ecosystems and society department, shared this experience as well.
“Being among the first in my family to attend college is both a path lit by pride and shadowed by isolation,” Monroe said. “Navigating this uncharted territory is empowering, but it also means carrying the weight of each challenge without a built-in support network, where every setback echoes louder.”
Along with this challenge is the feeling of “not knowing what you don’t know.” It’s hard to know how to ask for help if you don’t know what you’re missing out on or what support and opportunities exist. Ashley D’Antonio, associate professor in nature-based recreation management and associate department head for forest ecosystems and society, discussed how this shaped part of her undergraduate experience.
“I knew getting research experience as an undergraduate student was important, however, I did not know how to find those experiences,” she said. “I felt I had to work harder than non first-gen students to find the resources to support my education.”
D’Antonio’s experience as a first-generation student informed her chosen career path in academia and current drive to support students from diverse backgrounds and experiences in achieving their academic goals. In working with students directly, she tries to anticipate and automatically address the types of questions students might be afraid to ask or not know how to ask, an approach that, in-part, earned D’Antonio a recent OSU University Day Award for Faculty Teaching Excellence. Her experience also made her more resourceful and strengthened her problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
“Navigating unfamiliar systems and figuring things out independently…translates well when working on challenging research questions,” she said. “My experiences have strengthened my interpersonal skills, and I can effectively communicate with individuals from various and diverse backgrounds – another skill that is important both personally and professionally in my research in outdoor recreation.”
Monroe also noted that blending academic work with creative resilience and using art and writing to process experiences helps build bridges between cultural background and scientific research. This approach was vital to supporting well-being, and a way to navigate and question barriers encountered in academia.
“Often, sharing this journey invites sympathy rather than opportunity, as though these complexities define my limits instead of my potential,” Monroe said. “Resilience isn’t an invitation for pity; it’s a way of making space for possibility.”
Resources for First-Generation Students: Are you a first-generation college student considering a degree at Oregon State? The College of Forestry and OSU have many resources to help you succeed. Contact the admissions coordinator for the College of Forestry, or learn more about campus-wide programs via OSU First.
Professor Ben Leshchinsky and his team install a sensor in the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest
A groundbreaking study supported by the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) is underway to answer a fascinating question: Why did the last Cascadia earthquake appear to trigger few landslides? Researchers hypothesize that forest structure may play a role in damping seismic waves, reducing their impact on hillslopes in particular settings. This study explores whether certain types of forests act as natural shock absorbers during earthquakes, making ground shaking less severe compared to areas with different vegetation structure and/or land use.
SmartSolo 3C seismic sensor
To test this idea, the research team is using advanced SmartSolo 3C seismic sensors, which are compact, all-in-one devices capable of recording ground motions. These sensors were installed in the McDonald-Dunn Research Forest in two distinct landscapes: mature forests and adjacent clearings. By capturing both normal ground movements and vibrations from nearby quarry blasts that mimic earthquake activity, the team aims to compare how the ground responds in each environment.
The findings could provide insights into whether forests reduce seismic wave intensity. Additionally, the study aims to determine if different types of forests influence ground motion during earthquakes and to better understand how forests and landscapes interact during major seismic events.
The implications of this study extend far beyond its scientific curiosity. Understanding the role of forests in stabilizing landscapes could shed light on the history of large earthquakes and inspire innovative strategies to enhance landscape resilience to seismic waves.
This study is a collaboration between OSU and several university partners, including:
Will Struble, University of Houston, PI Valerie Sahakian, University of Oregon, co-PI Jill Marshall, Portland State University, co-PI Josh Roering, University of Oregon, co-PI Ben Leshchinsky, Oregon State University, co-PI
