schoppyi « College of Forestry

This year’s Dean’s dinner was a celebration of our scholarship recipients, outstanding alumni, donors, and college community. To get the awards ceremony started, the 2025 outstanding alumni, Jesse Paris, Dr. Jerry Franklin and Doug Mays, were honored.

*Student Jessica Lindley presented Dana Warren with The Aufderheide Excellence in Teaching award*

Two faculty awards honor the dedication shown by those who support students in the College. The Julie Kliewer Excellence in Mentoring went to Randy Rosenberger. His nominator wrote, “Randy taught me great skills that I applied to earn my dream job and academic success at OSU. He is the reason I am a great leader in my clubs and academics on campus. I owe a lot of my success to Randy.” The Aufderheide Excellence in Teaching went to Dana Warren. His nominator wrote, “Dana cares passionately for teaching and having an impact on his students. He’s always looking for ways to make his teaching styles more engaging. Dana pushes beyond the professional boundary of teaching and strives to connect and help his students in any way he can. I learned a lot from Dana about our natural resources issues and through his knowledge I gained hope for the future of our natural resources.”

Amy Riley, Assistant Dean for Student Success, presented the student scholarship and fellowship awards. She started off by recognizing the officers and members of the student clubs and organizations and the College of Forestry Ambassadors for their work and dedication to the College.

Several individual students were honored for making significant contributions and/or excelling academically during their time in the College of Forestry. The Pack Essay Award award was created several decades ago by Charles Lathrop Pack to encourage sound communication skills for forestry & natural resource professionals. The winner of the Pack Essay Award was natural resources student Alayne Rosenstein, for their essay titled “Architects of Our Own Extinction.” The winner of the 12th Annual Photo of the Year Contest was Hayden Wampler for their photo titled “The Fisherman.”

The College of Forestry is honored and privileged to award graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships to deserving new and returning students. These awards are made possible through the generous contributions and continued support from our scholarship and fellowship donors. This year, the College of Forestry’s Scholarship Committee reviewed 419 scholarships applications from new and returning students. From these, 126 undergraduate students were selected to receive scholarship offers totaling $555,300 for the 2025-2026 academic year. There will be an additional round of scholarship awards to complete later this summer for incoming transfer students, and students who applied but were not offered scholarships will remain eligible for potential late awards throughout the school year. We are excited to see the total number of awards continue to increase in the coming months.  

College of Forestry fellowships recognize our top incoming and returning graduate students. This year, the committee reviewed 105 graduate student applications from Masters and Doctoral students in four separate rounds. They selected 42 students, both Master- and Ph.D.- level, to receive college fellowships totaling just over $281,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Scholarships range in value from $3,000 to $9,000. All students who were able to attend came up in small groups for congratulations with the Dean, pictured below.

For Martha Rose Dawson, respect and care for the natural world is something of a family tradition. Raised in Riverside, California, Dawson grew up surrounded by stories of her parents, who met as park rangers at Bryce Canyon National Park. That early exposure to public lands and conservation planted a seed that would grow into a passion.

“I was raised to appreciate and respect our public lands from an early age,” Dawson said. “The desert was my backyard, and I was eager to go to a new environment and learn about the differences between the PNW and California ecosystems.”

That desire brought her to the Oregon State University College of Forestry, where she will graduate on Saturday with a degree in natural resources.

Throughout her time at OSU, Dawson found a sense of purpose at the intersection of conservation and human-wildlife relationships.

“What I’m most proud of is developing a clearer sense of purpose and passion,” she said. “Whether it was leading a group project, helping a classmate through a tough term, or just having meaningful conversations with faculty and my mentors, I feel like I’ve really contributed to and benefited from the COF community.”

One of those mentors is Associate Professor Ashley D’Antonio, who has been a guiding influence since her freshman year.

“Dr. D’Antonio is a huge reason I’m pursuing graduate school,” Dawson said. “She always encouraged me to push outside my comfort zone and apply for opportunities I never thought I could get. Her passion for her students and her field is so inspiring.”

Professor D’Antonio saw Dawson’s growth firsthand over the years and is continually impressed by her drive and leadership.

“Martha’s intelligence and dedication to her education truly stands out,” she shared. “I was especially impressed by her enthusiasm and leadership in my TRAL 456 class, where students collaborated in project teams to develop a recreation management plan. She has a bright future ahead, and I’m excited for her next steps in her education.”

After graduating, Dawson will spend the summer working as an Interpretive Park Ranger at Glacier National Park. Stationed at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, she’ll give talks on local wildlife and answer visitor questions — bringing her full circle to the family legacy of public land stewardship.

In the fall, Dawson will begin a master’s degree in natural resources at Utah State University. Her research will focus on how wildlife movement patterns are influenced by human activity across high-use and low-use recreation areas in Utah wildlife management areas.

Dawson also has some advice for incoming students. “Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors! Even small conversations can spark connections that shape your time at OSU and your future beyond it.”

With roots in the desert and new growth in the forests of Oregon, Martha Rose Dawson continues a legacy of care, curiosity and commitment to protecting our natural world.

What began as a volunteer effort to clear fallen trees from popular biking and hiking trails transformed into something bigger for natural resources Ecampus student Geoffrey Huber. Enter the Acoustic Chainsaw Club — a movement rooted in nature and community.

Founded by Huber in 2022, the club takes a unique and environmentally friendly approach to trail maintenance, offering a quieter alternative to traditional trail-clearing methods. Rather than using noisy gas-powered chainsaws, volunteers rely on restored vintage axes — a quieter, more sustainable and deeply mindful method. The result is more than just cleared trails. It’s a stronger, more intimate bond between people and the places they love.

For Huber, the inspiration for this club came from his love of mountain biking and his childhood in Northern California’s Redwood Coast.

“As an avid mountain biker, I spent countless hours in Oregon’s forests, where trail work is a constant necessity, especially after harsh winters or storms,” said Huber.

While running chainsaws to clear fallen trees is efficient, Huber noted that the noise pollution, environmental impacts and startup costs caused him to consider other ideas. That’s where the idea for a quieter alternative came into focus — axes.

“I grew up watching my dad work with wood,” he said. “The axe always fascinated me — it’s one of the oldest tools humanity has used and it’s so simple. There’s something beautiful about the simplicity of it.”

The appeal of using an axe extends beyond utility to the craftsmanship and history behind the tool. Huber enjoys restoring vintage axes and will make customized handles to match the personality of each user in the club.

“The quality of axes from the 1800s is unmatched. The steel used back then is much higher quality,” he said. “Resorting an old axe and bringing it back to life is a labor of love.”

Besides minimizing the environmental impact of chainsaws, including noise pollution, gas emissions and wildlife disturbance, using axes to perform trail maintenance provides not only a quieter experience for volunteers but a closer connection to nature.

“There’s a physicality to it, but also a mindfulness,” Huber says. “When you’re using an axe, you have to be precise and each strike counts.”

This precision, combined with the slower pace of working with axes allows for a more collaborative atmosphere. Volunteers are able to have more conversations, share ideas and bond over the common goal of preserving the forest for all to enjoy. The club is about more than just clearing trails — it’s also about building community.

“We have people in the group from all walks of life,” he said. “Some are very outdoorsy, and others are newer to it, and I like seeing everyone come together to accomplish a common goal.”

While the Acoustic Chainsaw Club has grown organically through word of mouth, Huber has ideas for expansion. He envisions that this club could include a program for youth to connect them to tree ecology and nature or be expanded to include new chapters in other regions, such as the Corvallis area. Huber invites those interested in getting involved or starting a new chapter to reach out to him at huberge@oregonstate.edu.

“The more people we have working together, the more we can accomplish. It’s about creating a community where everyone has a voice, and everyone is working toward something bigger than themselves.”

As an Ecampus natural resources student, he has been inspired by the community and support offered to returning professionals like himself. He noted that the flexibility and accessibility of the program have been invaluable in balancing his education with his career and personal life.

“I’m very impressed with the Ecampus format and access of information,” he said. “Student resources being a click away and the amount of work that goes into that support is pretty phenomenal.”

Post graduation, he hopes to dive deeper into habitat restoration work and continue the hands-on conservation efforts he is passionate about.

“People from the College of Forestry will continue to move forward, and we will continue to make things happen regardless,” he said. “I am very, very proud to be a part of the College of Forestry at OSU.”

Congratulations to Yasmeen Hossain, who recently received the 2024-2025 Project WILD Outstanding Coordinator Award! Yasmeen is the associate director of the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP). ONREP’s environmental education curriculum resources encourage educators to engage their students in nature-based learning both indoors and outside. Yasmeen was chosen thanks to her hard work and exceptional leadership with organizing and facilitating numerous workshops, conferences, and training sessions. Thanks for all you do to promote and support environmental education throughout Oregon and beyond!

Can you share a little bit about what you research?
My research has focused on information sharing in the wood products sector based around native hardwood species in the PNW. The purpose is partially to learn a little bit more about who is out there and what they are doing, since people don’t typically think of hardwoods when they think of Oregon and Washington forest products, but they are a very important part of the landscape. I’m also trying to learn about how those companies go about accessing the skills and developing the processes and markets they need to do what they do.

What will you be doing in your new role as Outreach Specialist with TDI?
My role with TDI will be about translating the extremely technical research that TDI supports into communicable products, so that it can reach a broader audience. Since TDI is working so close to the forefront of the mass timber industry, it seems like there is a lot of interest in the research that’s being done.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time at the COF so far?
I’ve really enjoyed any chance to explore Oregon and further abroad while I’ve been here! I went on a backpacking trip with some friends from my cohort in my first year and that trip stands out as a favorite.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I love cooking, so I end up doing a lot of that. I’m also trying to start a garden, and I’ve been carving a wooden carousel horse for several years now.

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?
I tend to lean toward irreverent fantasy and sci-fi as favorites, but I’m open to a lot of genres.

Graduates of the College of Forestry are our most valuable resource. Our alumni serve as a critical bridge between the university and the world, connecting Oregon State University and its students to communities and employers. They inspire our students to make a difference and they shape the world we live in.

This year, we honor the outstanding accomplishments of three College of Forestry alumni.

Jerry Franklin, 1959 & 1961
BS and MS Forest Management

Jerry Franklin received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in forest management at Oregon State University and a Ph.D. from Washington State University. He is a world-renowned forest ecologist who has been known as “the father of new forestry”. Working as a research forester, chief plant ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Corvallis and a professor of forest sciences at OSU, he was an early advocate for applying new forestry methods of ecosystems theory to the management of old growth in the Pacific Northwest. He is the leading authority on sustainable forest management and the maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems and was responsible for integrating ecological and economic values into harvest strategies. Recently, he co-authored “The Making of the Northwest Forest Plan” which discusses the events that led to the creation of the Northwest Forest Plan through the stories of scientists who crafted it.

Doug Mays, 1983
BS Forest Engineering

Doug Mays received his B.S. degree in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University’s College of Forestry and his MBA degree from OSU’s College of Business. He is a third generation Mays family member with forestry career roots starting at the COF. He recently celebrated a 40-year career with Weyerhaeuser Company, retiring in November of 2023. Throughout his career he facilitated and supported joint research projects between Weyerhaeuser and OSU, such as the Trask Watershed Study. His leadership helped advance safer, more sustainable harvesting at Weyerhaeuser and across the Pacific Northwest. In addition to his accomplished career, he has devoted himself to the forest industry – serving over 22 years on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Logging Conference, and as President of the Pacific Logging Congress in 2016. His involvement with the COF has shaped curriculum and programs while opening career paths for Weyerhaeuser students. In retirement, he still finds time to lead tours for Weyerhaeuser’s Trust Joist clients in Oregon – though his highest priority is spending time with his family at their mountain hideaway in Camp Sherman.

Jesse Paris, 2014
Ph.D Wood Materials

Jesse Paris received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech in Wood Science, specifically focused on renewable wood adhesives. His Ph.D. from Oregon State University was in both Wood Science and Material Science, and his research focused on wood composite interfacial interactions between substrate and adhesive at the cellular level. Jesse has been working for over 11 years with the Willamette Valley Company in Research and Development. He is currently the R&D team lead for the Biomaterials group that focuses on formulated adhesive rheology modifiers and wax products that extend raw material supply and add value to wood composite panel manufacturers and other industrial applications. Jesse lives in Eugene, OR with his wife, Chelsea, and their son Charlie. Beyond a passion for sustainable composite materials, Jesse enjoys travel, good food, good wine, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Jennifer Holler
Natural Resources

Why did you choose the COF and Natural Resources?
I am really passionate about conservation and know that it is what I want to work in for my future career. I don’t have an exact job in mind yet, and I thought Natural Resources is a broader degree that could be relevant in a number of occupations. I loved that it had an option for a concentration in fish and wildlife conservation, which is exactly what I want to work in.

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken so far?
My favorite class so far has been NR 202: Natural Resource Problems and Solutions. I loved all of the lectures and assignments for that class. I told people that I wish all of my classes could be exactly like that one.

What do you love most about being an Ecampus COF student?
The best part of being an Ecampus student is the flexibility. I am able to fit the lectures and assignments around my work schedule. Having to attend in-person classes is something that held me back from working on my degree in the past because I couldn’t balance both work and school. Being able to earn my degree online has opened up a whole new world for me.

What are you hoping or planning to do after graduation?
I want to use my degree to work in conservation, helping to keep endangered species from going extinct.

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?
One of my favorite books is “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It was required reading for a class I took a couple of years ago, and I absolutely loved it.

Kevin Anderson
Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership

Why did you choose the COF and Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership?
I chose the COF and TRAL field because since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be a Park Ranger. I love the outdoors and being a part of the process of not only conserving the land but also making it enjoyable to recreate.

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken so far?
My favorite class so far has been FOR 111: Introduction to Forestry. Learning new things everyday about the forest ecosystem has been very enjoyable.

What do you love most about being an Ecampus COF student?
Having the opportunity to earn a degree while still being at home with my family has been a true blessing. And the instructors have been more than understanding with some of the pitfalls of e-learning.

What are you hoping to do after graduation?
I’m hoping to be able to be a park manager after I earn my degree with either the state or the U.S. Forest Service.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I don’t know what free time is…But in all seriousness, I enjoy fishing, hunting, golfing and spending time with my kids and my grandson.

*Jill in front of Gollinger Wasserfall in Austria.*

COF natural resources major Jill Aire was recently named a Oregon Consular Corps Scholar for 2025 – an award offered to Oregon college students passionate about international affairs. Creating a personalized specialty of Ecological Consciousness within the natural resources major, Aire is studying the intersections between social and ecological systems and human connections to the natural world.

“This focus will help me recognize how human cultures, values and policies shape ecosystem management, and in turn, how these ecosystems impact human well-being,” Aire said.

Her favorite class at Oregon State so far has been ENT 300: Pests, Plagues and Politics, which introduced her to the intersection between technology, society and the natural world. Aire was invited to be a teaching assistant after taking the course, which further reinforced her passion for exploring the connections between the natural world and human systems.

“I gained a deeper appreciation for the critical role insects play in ecosystems and how they intersect with broader environmental and policy issues,” Aire said. “To be a well-rounded natural resource professional, it is essential to understand all aspects of our ecosystems, including often overlooked yet vital insect populations.”

Her educational and research passions are rooted in creating resilient and ecologically informed communities as a way to mitigate impacts of climate change. These passions have taken her abroad to Austria where she researched international policy, climate change impacts and renewable resources in urban infrastructure. Then, she traveled to Castilla La Mancha University in Spain, where she worked with an interdisciplinary team of researchers to develop effective post-fire recovery practices.

*Jill at the European Union Parliament building in Brussels with the Austrian flag.*

“All these experiences encouraged my international perspective, as well as fostering connection with diverse communities and provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I will continue to explore during my time at Oregon State,” Aire said.

After graduation she hopes to pursue a career in foreign service through the US Department of State, working with international governments and communities to develop effective natural resources management, sustainable energy production and urban greening projects. These goals blend her academic background in ecology and sustainability, with the aspiration to help craft foreign policy that supports global management efforts and aligns with U.S. interests.

“My ultimate goal is to forge international policy connected to climate change mitigation and adaptation,” she said. “I am especially passionate about fostering global cooperation on environmental issues, as I believe such efforts are essential to creating a more sustainable and equitable world.”

Outside of academics, Aire enjoys exploring Oregon’s natural landscapes, spending time with her roommates and her two cats, Ponderosa and Maple.

By Lorelle Sherman, OSU Extension Forester

*The author photographing purple martins. All photos by Lorelle Sherman*

Becoming a birdwatcher

Birdwatching is the perfect gateway to learning more about the ecosystem around us. Birds are excellent indicators of ecosystem condition because they respond to ecological change. If you plant native berry-producing bushes in your backyard, you may be visited by a suite of fruit-eating birds, like robins and bluebirds. If a wildfire burns through your forestland, you may discover new species of woodpeckers and flycatchers that utilize the influx of dead wood and open space. If you put a nectar feeder up… hummingbirds!

Through birdwatching, we can start to recognize the ways different species and resources are interconnected through the ecosystem services birds offer including seed dispersal, pollination, and insect control. Birds play a significant role in seed dispersal by both passively and actively transporting seeds, primarily through frugivory (eating fruits) and seed-caching behaviors (saving fruits for later). They digest the fleshy part of the fruit, leaving the seeds intact, which are then excreted often farther from the plant than would occur by wind dispersal. Some seeds even have adaptations to stick to bird bodies so they can be dispersed over long distances during flight. Recent studies have confirmed that several songbirds in Oregon (orange-crowned warbler, yellow warbler-rumped warbler, etc.) provide pollination services while foraging in flowers. The diet of birds ranges widely, but some species specialize in eating insects. Even species that lean towards herbivory as adults will feed their nestlings insects to ensure proper nutrition during rapid nestling growth. Collectively, bird populations can act as a control on insect populations and enhancing bird communities near crops has been a pest control strategy implemented in agriculture.

Birdwatching also allows us to key into changes in habitat over time, year-to-year variation in weather, and long-term changes in climate. In order to do this, we must recognize that there are resident species which remain local year-round, and migratory species which fly between breeding habitat and overwintering habitat. Resident bird populations can act as indicators of local weather patterns and ecosystem health, so monitoring their populations is valuable for public lands, local parks, and even our backyards (more on this later). Migratory bird populations can clue us into shifting weather patterns over time and large-scale changes to the landscape. For example, if warmer temperatures happen earlier each spring, we may see a mismatch in timing between the return of flower-feeding songbirds and the flowering of plants.

If you are new to birding, I recommend spending an hour each morning sitting in your backyard or favorite park with a notebook, field guide to western bird species, maybe a pair of binoculars, and possibly an identification app on your phone. Take notes on the different sounds you’re hearing. Are they long and melodic? Deep and guttural? Short, high-pitched chips? Practice taking notes on any birds you see. What color are the back feathers? The belly feathers? Any white bars on the wings? A long or short bill? How long is the tail? Take notes on the behavior of the bird. Where in the environment is it perched or flying? Is it bobbing its body up and down or flicking its tail? In my opinion, taking notes is integral to becoming a better birder. We are lucky to be birdwatchers during the rise of user-friendly technology that brings birding right to our fingertips. Websites and apps on our mobile phones are incredibly helpful and can be a tool in addition to your trusty notebook.

Next level birdwatching

The right app on your cell phone can help you identify species, log your bird sightings, and even connect with fellow bird enthusiasts. Here are a few of my favorite free technological resources:

Merlin Bird ID – Developed by the experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app has several functions. The Bird ID feature guides users through a series of questions to narrow down the possibilities based on size, color, and behavior, offering a shortlist of potential matches The Sound ID feature records and analyzes the bird songs and calls around you providing real-time suggestions for the birds it detects. The app includes regional bird packs, has offline functionality, and is integrated with eBird allowing users to contribute their sightings to the global eBird database.
eBird – Also created by Cornell Lab, eBird is a global online database and citizen science project where birders log their bird sightings, share data with others, and explore birding hotspots and species information. eBird allows users to track their life lists, target species, and create alerts for rare sightings. It is used by birders of all levels, researchers, and conservationists to understand bird populations, track migrations, and inform conservation efforts.
iNaturalist – This joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society is based on crowdsourcing of observations and identification. While it’s not solely focused on birds, it’s a powerful tool for logging bird sightings alongside all kinds of flora and fauna. You can upload photos, get help identifying species from a global community of naturalists, and contribute to scientific research projects. It’s especially useful for birders who are also interested in the broader ecological context of their observations.
BirdNET – BirdNET is another option for identifying birds based on their songs and calls. You simply record the sound around you, and the app processes it to identify likely species. It’s a powerful tool, especially when birds are hard to spot but easy to hear. Great for passive listening or nighttime birding.

*A rare sighting of a long-eared owl discovered through eBird rare bird alerts*

Becoming a community scientist

Remember how birds can act as indicators of ecosystem function and health? We, as birdwatchers, can provide valuable information to researchers through our observations of birds. While traveling to the Oregon Coast or Malheur National Forest may be more your style, we can submit observations from our backyards, neighborhood parks, or favorite greenspaces. eBird and Merlin Sound ID have handy resources for birdwatchers who would like to ensure their observations are available for scientific research. Data contributed by community members has been used to create accurate range maps for species and track species population trends over time. This is science!

If you’d like to get involved in an organized community science effort, here are a few ways to contribute:

Project FeederWatch – This survey occurs every November-April in an effort to capture winter bird abundance and distribution to the fine scale of weekly changes. This can be done from your kitchen window with a field guide in hand if you are strategic about feeder placement. All you have to do is select your site, install a bird feeder, and identify and count birds! There is a small fee for participation.
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count – This survey is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project and operates annually from December 14-January 5. CBC counts are a group effort and involve walking pre-determined routes within a designated 15-mile diameter circle to get complete census data of all birds within the circle. This is a great way to learn because beginners are paired with at least one expert. Participation is free.
North American Breeding Bird Survey – If you are advanced in your bird identification skills, you may choose to get involved with a local Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) where pre-determined routes are surveyed by volunteers. In order to participate, you will need the ability to identify all breeding birds in the area by sight and sound and you will need to complete a methodology training program. The data collected is rigorous and therefore highly valuable to science.

Whether you choose to contribute to science through independent observations or through an organized effort, you can contribute to data gathering on a scale once unimaginable. The data is used by scientists to reveal how birds are affected by habitat loss, disease, climate, etc., and guides conservation efforts, including habitat restoration, species protection, and mitigation of threats to bird populations. Participation can be as simple as watching a feeder or as complex as running a BBS route, but there’s no better time to get started than today!

Can you share a little about your background and why you decided to join the College of Forestry?
Most of my career has been focused on addressing challenges in urban forestry and urban ecology. I have worked in a variety of settings the past 24 years, including for the cities of Philadelphia, PA and Tacoma, WA, USDA Forest Service Philadelphia Field Station and Tacoma Tree Foundation. I have also been teaching for many of those years as well and have taught as an adjunct at Community College of Philadelphia, Temple University, Haverford College and others.

I received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I received a fantastic education at UMass and learned from so many wonderful faculty. I grew up as a city kid in Washington, D.C. and like a lot of city kids, I didn’t know there were career options in forests or ecology. I was lucky to happen upon a forest botany class where I was introduced to the complexities of forest ecosystems, the existence of mycorrhizae, three-hour labs in the woods and the possibility that I could have a career that involved plants and wildlife. My college experience was enriching and has led to a rewarding career. It is so exciting for me to be back in the university setting, where I can contribute to other people’s learning and also learn from others.

How did you become interested in urban forestry?
Having grown up in a city, I was comfortable working in natural spaces in urban places. I had been managing ecological restoration projects in Philadelphia and using GIS to document our work when massive tree planting initiatives became a big deal in cities throughout the country including Philadelphia. In 2008, I became the lead, because of my GIS experience, for a Tree Canopy Assessment project that used LiDAR to identify planting opportunities across the city. The resulting data (provided by UVM) revealed where there were opportunities to plant, but it also sparked questions about where and why there were gaps in canopy cover. This led me to expand my focus to include all the trees across the urban landscape from natural areas, parks, yards and street trees. Since then, I have continued to work at the crossroads of plants and people diving into the complicated ecosystems of cities.

What are you teaching and doing in your work as the urban forestry extension specialist at the COF?
Right now, I am teaching Arboriculture. In future terms, I will also be teaching Urban Forest Analytics, Wildland Urban Interface and a capstone class. We, Jennifer Killian and I, are currently reflecting on the urban forestry needs of Oregon’s urban and urbanizing communities and thinking about how we can address these needs through our extension roles.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I love spending time with my family. It doesn’t matter if it is helping with soccer practice, camping by a lake in the summer or reading together. I also like to walk, sometimes quietly and sometimes in boisterous groups, in urban areas or in wild spaces. Last year, I walked the West Highland Way in Scotland, which I really enjoyed, and I would love to do more distance walking and hiking in the future.

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?
My favorite non-fiction book is “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and my favorite fiction is “Circe” by Madeline Miller. For the past few years, I have been participating in a library’s extreme reader challenge which involves reading 50 books from 50 different categories in 50 weeks, so I am always up for book recommendations.

College of Forestry

At Oregon State University

Author Archives: schoppyi

2025 Dean’s dinner and awards ceremony

Graduate profile: Martha Rose Dawson

Building community, one axe swing at a time: how a natural resources student is quietly blazing trails

Congratulations to Yasmeen Hossain

Five questions with… Victoria Diederichs, current M.S. student and upcoming Outreach Specialist with TallWood Design Institute

2025 Outstanding Alumni

Five questions with… Ecampus students Jennifer Holler and Kevin Anderson

Student spotlight: Jill Aire, natural resources

The Wildlife Corner: how birdwatching may launch you into community science

Five Questions With… Sarah Low, Assistant Professor (Practice) in Urban Forestry and Urban Forest Extension Specialist

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