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.

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.

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.

Can you share a little about your background and why you decided to join the College of Forestry?
Absolutely! I’m originally from southcentral Wisconsin, where my family runs a large peppermint farm—a place where I first developed a deep connection with the land resources. My interest in municipal forestry, however, sparked during my time on the Emerald Ash Borer team at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, my very first job out of undergrad. That role opened my eyes to the critical and often overlooked work happening at the intersection of urban environments and forest health. I came to Oregon State to earn my master’s and deepen my involvement in the field, and after gaining experience across the nonprofit, municipal, and state sectors, I’ve found my way back to OSU — where it all began. I’m thrilled to bring those experiences into the classroom and contribute to the College of Forestry’s mission.

How did you become interested in urban forestry?
My first job out of college was with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture’s Emerald Ash Borer team. It took me across the state — searching for signs of the invasive beetle and helping communities prepare for its arrival. Every city I visited had a unique approach to managing its urban forest, and I became fascinated by the different strategies and challenges involved. I realized then how vital urban forests are — and how much they need advocates. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be one of those voices.

What are you teaching and doing in your work as the urban forestry extension specialist at the COF?
I’ll teach a range of courses including FES/HORT 350: Urban Forestry, FES 506: Urban Forestry Capstone, FES 560: Green Infrastructure, and I’m currently developing an exciting new course for fall term — FES 454/554: Managing Trees in the Wildland Urban Interface. On the extension side, I create educational materials, lead workshops on small tree structural pruning and support communities in preserving trees during development. I’m also contributing to Oregon’s statewide efforts to prepare for Emerald Ash Borer, which was first detected here in 2022. I’m open to knowing what sort of needs there are both locally and statewide, so if you have any ideas please send them my way!

What do you like to do in your free time?
I love hiking, camping and exploring the outdoors — but I’m also just as content spending the afternoon in my garden with a cold beverage. I’m also a semi (emphasis on semi) professional cake and cupcake maker. But honestly, one of my favorite things in the world is hanging out with my two-year-old — he keeps life joyful and very, very lively.

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?
I’m a big fan of anything by Jon Krakauer or Bill Bryson — especially the way they blend storytelling with adventure. But my all-time favorite book is “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold. It’s timeless, thoughtful and has shaped the way I see the world.

Congratulations to each of the latest Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) national award winners from Forestry and Natural Resources Extension! This recognition from peers from across the country serves as a testament to the exceptional quality of the work done. The ANREP Awards Program fosters high standards within the membership, recognizes significant achievement, and expands the use of high quality, innovative materials and programs by honoring the outstanding members and partners who developed them.

The Gold Award in TV/Video went to Bees in the Woods, a video series that offers information on enhancing pollinator habitat on small private forest properties. Lauren Grand, Brad Withrow-Robinson, Jacob Putney, Stephen Fitzgerald, Hayley Brazier (High Desert Museum), and Pat McAbery (Sight and Sound Services) worked on this video series.

Alicia Christiansen and Lauren Grand received the Gold Award for the Canopy View News e-newsletter, targeted to forest enthusiasts of Lane and Douglas Counties in Oregon.

The publication Introduction to Forest Carbon, Offsets and Markets, received the Silver Award for long publication. Jacob Putney, Norma Kline, Stephen Fitzgerald, Lauren Grand, Chris Schnepf (University of Idaho), Greg Latta (University of Idaho), Patrick Shults (Washington State University) and John Rizza (formerly OSU) were authors of this Extension publication that introduces readers to forest carbon, carbon offsets, projects and markets. It is intended to orient forest owners, land managers, natural resource professionals and others to forest carbon and carbon market terminology and processes, as well as resources for assistance and getting started.

In January the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded a $4.2 million grant to the Clallam County Economic Development Council in Port Angeles, Washington, to advance Indigenous forestry resource development. The grant was matched with over $1 million in local funds from combined contributions by the Clallam County government, Oregon State University, Port of Port Angeles, Clallam County EDC, Composite Recycling Technology Center, Peninsula College, University of Washington’s Olympic Natural Resources Center and the City of Forks.

As part of this grant, College of Forestry Stewart Professor of Forest Operations Woodam Chung is advancing Investing in Forestry Skills: A Technology-Focused Workforce Training Program. The initiative is designed to build a highly skilled and technologically advanced forestry workforce in Clallam and Jefferson Counties through comprehensive training and development. Additionally, it aims to address the critical workforce shortage, one of the most pressing challenges facing the forest industry today.

“We’ve seen a dramatic decline in the forest industry workforce, and attracting younger generations has been increasingly difficult,” said Chung. “This reluctance, I believe, comes partly from the outdated perception that forestry jobs are inherently tough and dangerous. However, the reality is that rapid technological advancements and increasing mechanization are modernizing the field, making forestry jobs safer and more efficient.”

As technology continues to advance, Chung emphasizes that forest workforce development and training programs must evolve as well.

“In order to attract and retain skilled workers, training programs need to reflect the technological changes shaping the industry,” he said. “We must equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate cutting-edge equipment and embrace new, more sustainable forestry practices.”

By doing so, he believes the industry can not only overcome its current workforce shortage but also prepare for a future that is both safer and more technologically integrated.

Today, the forestry sector lacks accessible training opportunities, has unclear career paths and a widening gap between existing skills and emerging technologies. The program aims to address these challenges and empower the region through a multifaceted approach that focuses on:

  1. Bridging the skills gap by providing targeted training on essential technologies and skillsets – cultivating a future-ready workforce by fostering proficiency in current technology and adaptability.
  2. Developing partnerships with industry, public and tribal land management agencies, school districts and forestry associations across Jefferson and Clallam Counties and establishing new hands-on training curricula.
  3. Providing diverse pathways — both entry-level and upskilling/retraining for existing forestry professionals — that cater to the specific needs of different audiences.

As this program bridges the skills gap and works to cultivate a future-ready workforce, it will increase the forestry sector’s accessibility and appeal to a broader audience of jobseekers and promote economic growth in forest-dependent rural communities. It will also improve operational efficiency and safety in forest practices, along with increased awareness of environmental impacts.

The grant will also support the University of Washington’s Olympic National Resource Center and new forest workforce training programs at Peninsula College. These programs aim to advance Clallam County’s economic growth, contribute to innovative and sustainable forest management in the community and represent a commitment to rural prosperity.

Co-PIs for this project include Kevin Lyons and Heesung Woo, Oregon State University; Mia Boster, Peninsula College; and Bernard Bormann, University of Washington Olympic Natural Resources Center.

Today’s sustainability challenges recognize no borders, and collaboration must be built across cultures worldwide to build an economy that supports people and planet. That’s one reason why Rajat Panwar, professor of responsible and sustainable business, travels the globe to collaborate and learn from colleagues and mentor and teach students. His research, which examines the impact of business practices on biodiversity loss and deforestation while also exploring potential solutions and ways to foster a sustainable bioeconomy, is especially relevant in today’s global and interconnected world.

Panwar recently traveled to Finland to deliver a keynote lecture at the 13th annual Responsible Business Research Conference. His speech, “Frontiers in Corporate Sustainability: Where Do We go from Here” explored the future of sustainable business in a world on edge — where geopolitical tensions are rising, corporate climate commitments are unraveling, and trust between businesses and society is fraying.

“The conference couldn’t have come at a better time. Seeing the impactful work people are doing was truly electrifying. With participants from 21 countries, it felt like a global rallying cry — we are not backing down,” Panwar said. “Emerging scholars give me hope; they are defying entrenched paradigms and exploring bold solutions.”

The conference aimed to spark thought-provoking discussions on the meaning of corporate responsibility today and increase the visibility of research on business sustainability and ethics. It explored what corporate responsibility means in today’s society and how we can conduct research around responsible and ethical business environments.

Sustainable business impacts everyone — after all, we rely on forests, but they also depend on us to protect and sustainably manage them. Our world is an intricate web, and understanding this interconnected system is key to finding groundbreaking solutions. Panwar emphasizes this importance of driving change through innovative global perspectives.

Later this month, Panwar will travel to Rome, Italy, for the Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World (SW4SW) workshop hosted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. The workshop will present a six-year review of initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable wood practices to improve livelihoods and bolster climate resilience.

The insights from this workshop, which gathers organizations from the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, will inform the strategic planning of the SW4SW initiative that focuses on advancing the business case for sustainable, inclusive wood and international collaborations in forestry.

With teaching experience across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, Panwar is also a global distinguished faculty member at the National Institute of Agricultural Marketing located in Jaipur, India. Originally from India, Panwar is an interdisciplinary scholar with dual doctoral degrees — a Ph.D. in forestry and a DBA in sustainability and strategy. His experiences facing a rapid economic expansion and environmental degradation during his youth shaped his research and teaching passions today.

“I witnessed the development-conservation debate come alive. The belief that environmental loss was an inevitable price for escaping poverty, increasing income and generating local jobs ran too deep,” Panwar said. “These experiences profoundly impacted me, so my academic work is dedicated to finding sustainability and ensuring a future where meeting human needs doesn’t come at too high an environmental cost.”

Can you tell us about the areas of research you are passionate about and what brought you to being the Christmas Tree Extension Specialist at the COF?
I have a passion for understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the interactions between two living organisms that exist in symbiosis, such as insects and plants. The interplay between insect pests and plants is a perfect example of the evolution of these interactions. Understanding pest biology on a host plant is essential to developing sustainable pest management strategies. The impact of applied entomology on agriculture and forestry has inspired me to continue my career in entomology. I studied various insect pests in forest and agriculture ecosystems to develop cultivars exhibiting pest-resilient traits. This skill set and passion for applied science brought me to being the Christmas tree extension specialist. As an extension specialist, I have opportunities to constantly learn and explore new challenges created by the emerging threats to the Christmas tree industry and develop solutions that have a direct impact on the stakeholders.

What are you currently researching? And, what is one research project that you’re proud of or that you feel had a significant impact?
Currently, I am learning different management strategies for Christmas Tree production. The vision of my program is to develop an interdisciplinary research program to address the emerging challenges in Christmas tree production in the Pacific Northwest to develop applied solutions. If I had to pick a past project that made a significant impact, it is when I developed a protein database of oral secretions of Western Flower thrips, a notorious agriculture and greenhouse pest. It was also one of the most challenging projects that I have ever worked with as I had to dissect thousands of insects to extract their salivary glands. This database has opened opportunities for other researchers to understand the fundamental biology of the pest to develop sustainable tools to manage it.

What is something you want every student to know about you?
I have a very broad knowledge of various subjects such as biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and ecology. I also bring technical knowledge in insect rearing, both basic and advanced molecular biology. Most importantly, I love mentoring students and providing career guidance!

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like baking in cool season and gardening in warm season!

What’s your favorite book/movie genre or your all-time favorite title?
I like to read mystery books and watch comedy movies.

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.