How did you end up at your role here in the College of Forestry?

I’ve been here about three years as the help desk coordinator. I schedule the student workers and manage the help desk to make sure tickets get completed and everything is functional. I’m originally from Portland, and I went to school here at Oregon State. I worked as a student worker for the College of Business. After graduation, I stuck around Corvallis. I love working at my alma mater.

What’s your favorite part about your job?

I like staying relevant in a technological world where technologies are always growing. I get to do research and interact with students – who usually know more than I do. I like to stay relevant.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I play racquetball about three times a week. I also like biking and camping. This summer, I’ve been gardening a lot.

Where do you like to go camping?

Anywhere in the Willamette Valley, really. It’s easy enough to go an hour out and find a slew of spots near rivers or lakes.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

I would say I’m a dog person, but my girlfriend and I have two cats. They’re kind of dog-like. They play fetch.

What’s your favorite Karaoke song?

I sing Karaoke from time to time. Queen songs are great for Karaoke. My favorite is probably ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’

What are you reading right now?

I’m listening to the Dark Tower series on audiobook right now. I’m in an audiobook club. I usually listen to books on my commute to and from Philomath.

If your house was on fire, and you could only grab three objects to save, what would you choose?

1. A bay of external hard drives with all my media content.
2. My motorcycle jacket that I’ve had for years.
3. My backpacking backpack with all my gear.

How did you end up at Oregon State?

My wife got a job at Oregon State in the Crop and Soil Science Department, and we moved to Corvallis in fall of 2009. I worked remotely on my post-doc until 2010, at which point I began a research position the fisheries and wildlife department .  In 2015, I transitioned to a tenure track position with ajoint appointment between Forest Ecosystems and Society and the Department of Fisheries Wildlife. I have to say that I really enjoy working in two departments. Of course, I go to two faculty meetings and serve on more committees, but it’s been a great fit for me in terms of my research interests and potential for collaboration.

 

What’s your favorite part about your job?

I love working with graduate students. They do amazing work. I love building rapport with them and seeing them going through the learning process where at the end of their time they are writing really stellar thesis drafts.

 

You won a dean’s award this year, and were recently awarded tenure. How does it feel?

It’s great. Gaining tenure is a weight off my shoulders. I think any faculty member would tell you that there’s no time when you’re not thinking about work and I’m hoping to take at least a bit of a breath next year sometime and start to unwind a little. I won the dean’s award for graduate student mentorship.  I have a great group of students and really all I did was what I like to do the most (talk a lot to students about science).

 

What are your plans for summer?

I have an NSF grant to do work in Yellowstone. I’m headed out there for a couple weeks. Then I’ll visit family back East, and when we get back to Oregon I’ll catch up on my projects here – one at HJ Andrews and one on managed forest landscapes in the Coast and Cascade Ranges, then back to Yellowstone for a week. I’ll recover after that and spend time with my kids. We hope to spend a few weekends camping on the coast.

 

What kinds of things are your kids into?

They both do gymnastics at KidSprit, and my oldest is taking riding lessons from Michele Justice’s daughter, which has been a cool College of Forestry connection.

 

What else do you do when you’re not working?

I’m enjoying experiencing children’s literature again through my kids. I’m reading them lots of Shel Silverstein and Rahl Dahl. We’ve also recently started skiing as a family. I’m looking forward to reclaiming more of my old hobbies like wood working, fishing and playing hockey. Hopefully I can gain better work-life balance in the coming year and start integrating those back into my life.

What was your life like before becoming a Ph.D. student at Oregon State?

I finished my undergrad in 2007 at Georgetown University with a B.A. in Theology. As you can probably guess, theology is a virtually non-marketable degree – theology majors either 1) go to seminary, or 2) earn doctorates, then teach future theology students. I had zero interest in either of those career paths. But at the time I didn’t particularly care about job prospects, since about halfway through college I decided I wanted to go to culinary school, and eventually open my own bakery.

After graduating I moved to New York City, where I was professionally trained in classic French pastry. But after just a few months working in the food industry, I became sadly disillusioned. I realized that, unless you’re extremely talented and extremely lucky, a career in baking means hard physical labor, big egos, low creative freedom and even lower wages.

I stuck with it for a while, but I also started looking around for other opportunities. I spent a fair amount of time trying to market my non-marketable theology degree (fail). Eventually, I suppose around 2011, I gave up the hope of getting myself on any sort of career track, and instead resigned myself to a series of dead-end jobs. Fortunately, since those jobs offered no intellectual stimulation whatsoever, I had plenty of time and mental energy to do some soul searching as well. By 2013, with more than a few oven burns on my arms and way too much retail experience under my belt, I decided to go back to grad school and (hopefully) re-tool myself to work in some field related to environmental conservation and sustainability.

What has your experience been like?

It’s been a challenge, for sure. Coming from a non-science, non-NR background I had a steep learning curve, and I never really found a strong research focus. Generally I concentrate on ethics in conservation, but within that concentration I’ve thought and written on a range of topics, including wildlife management, forest management, and even a little climate change. I’ve also dabbled in conservation psychology, particularly for my dissertation work. So I’m pretty interdisciplinary. Recently I’ve also come to realize that I’m most interested in asking questions that don’t have clear or unequivocally “right” answers. I think I’d argue that many if not most of the ethical issues we face in environmental management and conservation meet that condition…which is really overwhelming, but at least I know I won’t run out of things to think about any time soon.

You work as an instructor. What’s that like?

I really enjoy teaching, and I feel lucky to have had a chance to do a fair amount of it as a graduate student. Right now I’m teaching an online graduate course, SNR 522 Basic Beliefs and Ethics in Natural Resources. It’s been a good term – probably the most diverse and engaged group I’ve had yet.

 

Will you continue to do that now that you’re wrapping up your Ph.D.? What’s next?

I’ll be starting a post doc position in summer through the HJ Andrews Long-Term Ecological Research program. They supported me throughout my grad program, so I’m happy to have a chance to stay with that community, and hopefully make myself useful. And yes, I’m also hoping to continue teaching my class. I’d gladly accept any opportunities to teach additional classes as well.

Have you read any good books lately?

Lately I’ve been reading some stuff by a local Eugene author, Barry Lopez. He wrote this amazing essay for Harper’s magazine, called “Polar Light” – a mentor sent it to me a few months ago, and it sort of got me hooked. I picked up Winter Count, which is a book of short stories, and I was done with it in one evening. That same night I ordered Arctic Dreams, which is what I’m still reading now (it’s been slow going – I tend to fall asleep after a couple pages). Anyway, this one is non-fiction, and conveys Lopez’ lifelong fascination with the arctic region. It’s such a different place than anywhere else on Earth, so I’ve enjoyed learning a bit of that history and ecology. But more than that I appreciate his ability to translate his observations of the arctic region into these insightful and frankly beautiful reflections on humanity. He’s a great writer.

What’s your favorite food?

Cake. And salad.

 

If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which would you be?

Some combination of Sleepy and Grumpy…Slumpy?

What’s in the trunk of your car right now?

Sheets (an effort to control the profusion of dog hair in my car…which in actuality is an exercise in futility); reusable grocery bags; and a large pink umbrella, which I bought at an old-fashioned pharmacy in New York City back in 2008.

How long have you been at Oregon State?

I moved here from Alaska in 2008 with eight kids in tow to attend graduate school at Oregon State. I graduated in 2010 with a master’s in adult education and a specialization in virtual learning environments. Soon after that I was hired as an OSU Ecampus advisor for the natural resources program. In 2014, I became the program coordinator for natural resources and I’ve been here ever since.

Awesome. What should people know about the program?

The program has seen steady growth since its inception. We’ve had two big curriculum revisions- most recently in the summer of 2018. Our revisions help us adapt to the changes in the field of resource management, the needs of employers, and the interests of the students. We are constantly analyzing and making sure we’re meeting their needs.

 

Tell me about the students you advise.

I love our students! They’re on the forefront of whatever is going on in the world. Right now there’s a huge interest in issues like sustainability, climate change, food issues and more. Our students go everywhere and do all kinds of jobs from land management to environmental education to law.

Do you have a natural resources background?

No. My bachelor’s degree is in visual communications. I became interested in natural resources and education while living in rural Alaska for 20 years. I homeschooled my eight children, and we often had moose and other wildlife wandering through our back yard. Most of our family memories are intimately connected with wilderness or wildlife.

 

Wow. Tell us more about that experience.

Alaska was one of the first states to have a state-funded homeschool program, and I got very involved in a leadership role in alternative education. My kids used an online curriculum and that was how I first got involved with online education. It was great because we lived in the middle of nowhere, but my kids had the opportunity to participate in scientific field studies and communicate with people all over the world.

Tell us about your large family!

The tribe has grown up and I have only one left in the house. She will graduate from high school in 2019. The other seven are either in college or already finished with their degree; four have graduated or are currently at Oregon State, one graduated from the University of Oregon, one from Western Oregon University, one currently taking a gap year.  It’s important to me that they not carry a lot of student debt, so they all worked and paid their own ways through school. I am really proud of my kids.

 

What do you do when you’re not working?

I love gardening and cooking and spending time with my expanding family as my kids get married. My son is getting married this summer, and his fiancé has a six-year-old son, so I’m becoming a grandmother, and I’m loving it. We are a very nerdy family. We get together on Mondays and play Dungeons and Dragons.

 

What do you like to cook?

I love baking bread. I’m working on perfecting my sourdough right now.

What was your journey to the College of Forestry?

I did my undergrad in business and a minor in economics at the University of Oregon and worked a few different jobs, including in the Admissions Office at Western Oregon University, and I really loved the environment there. To get the type of university job I wanted, I needed a master’s degree so I decided to come to Oregon State to get my master’s in counseling. After that, I worked at LBCC in the TRIO program and in the Horticulture Department at Oregon State. I moved over here to the College of Forestry in 2014.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

The students. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t enjoy working with the students. It’s really cool to see their development from start to finish. They really grow in confidence.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I like to kayak when the weather is good. I read a lot and watch some TV. I’m a parent to two teenagers who can’t drive themselves yet, so I spend a lot of time shuttling them between activities.

What have you been watching and reading lately?

I’m watching True Blood – about 10 years too late – and I just read a book called The Nature Fix, which is very interesting and relates a little bit to my work.

What job did you want to be when you were a kid?

I was never anyone who had a great sense of direction from a young age, but I did love art as a kid, and I think I wanted to be an artist at one point.

If you could only eat tacos or sushi for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Tacos! I’m a vegetarian and have been for about 30 years now. I also love Thai food, Mexican food, and I would eat pizza every day if I could. There isn’t much I don’t like, except for bananas.

How long have you been at Oregon State? How did you get here? What’s your career journey been like?

I actually attended grad school in the College of Forestry, graduating in 2006.  I worked on the Willamette and Gifford Pinchot National Forests as a Recreation Planner for a few years before starting my position with the OSU Research Forests in 2012.  I would say it’s the best job yet, except for the two summers I spent as a Wilderness Ranger in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness when I was an undergrad.

What do you love about your job?

I love working out here at Peavy Arboretum.  I can walk outside at any time and find a snake in the planter boxes, watch the birds, or go for a quick walk or run on the trails.  While I don’t get to work in the field as much as I’d like, all of my work is tied to the land and how people connect with it.  Finding ways to help people form personal connections with nature is my main motivator.  Also, I work with really wonderful co-workers, students, volunteers and visitors.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I have an awesome partner, two little kids, a dog, two cats and five chickens who make life fun and busy.  I also really enjoy writing fiction, knitting, cooking, spending time with my extended family, and playing time outside.

 

What have you consumed within the pop culture world lately. Got any good books, movies, shows or podcasts to share?

I’m really embarrassed to say how caught up I am in the last season of Game of Thrones and definitely spent a sleepless night this week reliving zombie battle scenes in my head.  I pretty much enjoy most sci-fi and fantasy tv shows, regardless of apparent quality, especially ones with queer characters.

 

What’s your favorite food?

Not-so-sweet chocolate cake with a chocolate buttercream frosting and a giant glass of milk.

If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?

I would like to be a cat, primarily because I would be able to sleep whenever I want to, wherever I want to.  Also, I would be very honest about how I feel at all times, and would enjoy small pleasures such as warm sunshine, cuddling, and chasing lasers.

Welcome to Oregon State! You started your job a few weeks ago. How is it going?

I say that it’s like drinking from a fire hose, but it’s good. There are lots of different things to consider. I worked at the University of Idaho before, and Oregon State is much bigger, and the College of Forestry is much bigger. There are different processes and what feels like thousands of trainings. I haven’t felt very effective yet.

What is your job, exactly?

My title is ‘targeted research coordinator.’ I’ll be helping to manage some of our internal funding sources. I’ll work very closely with the TallWood Design Institute to manage those funds and McIntire-Stennis research funds as well. I’ll also help Melora during busy times.

 

What do you do when you’re not working?

I love teaching people about using essential oils. I do that on the side.

What are your favorite oils?

Lavender, lemon and peppermint. They’re amazing during allergy season.

 

What is your favorite meal?

Probably literally the one that will kill me someday: fettuccini alfredo.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would pay off all my debt and put money aside for my children and future grandchildren, and then I would want to travel. My oldest daughter was born in Iceland so I would want to take here there to see where she was born and then also go visit my youngest daughter who now lives in Australia.

How did you end up here in the College of Forestry?

I’m a third-generation Beaver! I ran track here, and after I graduated, I lived in California for a year and a half before going back to school to get my teaching certificate so I could be a physical education teacher, but at that time, the job market was really competitive, so one of my friends suggested I get a job on campus. I worked in the registrar’s office for five years and in The School of Civil and Construction Engineering for a month shy of 20 years. I’ve been here for five.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

The people. I love my colleagues and the students I advise.

 

Do you still run? What are your other hobbies?

I can’t run anymore, unfortunately. I had two knee surgeries, and I didn’t get the therapy I needed right away, so I never got back into. I like to play computer games and spend time with my family. I have one sister who lives here in town, and she has two kids. My older son lives in Albany with his three kids. I have step son in New Zealand, and we were able to visit him there about five years ago.

That’s amazing. Do you travel a lot?

Not really, but I do go to Maui every year. We like to go for the women’s basketball tournament and experience 84-degree and sunny December days.

 

Have you read any good books lately?

Right now I’m rereading the Hunger Games. I love those types of books.

 

If you were an ice cream flavor, what kind would you be?

Chocolate. It’s my favorite. And it has to be Umpqua ice cream.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve done for fun?

I’ve been zip-lining in Hawaii a few times, and I enjoy white-water rafting. My sister wants to skydive, but I would never do that.

You’re an OSU alumna, right? How did you end up here at the College of Forestry?

I graduated with my degree in merchandizing management in 2010. During college I was a START leader and worked in New Student Programs. I was involved in Greek life on campus and held leadership positions for my chapter and Panhellenic council. When I started to think about life beyond college, I knew I didn’t want to enter the corporate world. I loved my own academic advisor, and I attribute the fact that I didn’t fail out of college to her, so I went straight to grad school in the college student services administration program. After that, I advised the design program as it moved from PHHS to COB, then sociology and now natural resources.

What’s different about being an advisor in the College of Forestry than anywhere else on campus?

Our group is well-respected across campus. I love the people I work with, and I love the students I advise. They are often nontraditional students, veterans or active military, and they care about a wide range of issues that are important to me as well.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I chase my 19-month-old daughter around. My life has changed so much since becoming a parent. Right now I am enjoying watching her experience new things like swimming and going to the beach. It’s fun to see her excitement and joy!

Watching anything good on Netflix?

I love Grace and Frankie. I’m a Netflix binger for sure.

 

What about books? Are you a reader?

Right now, I read a lot of parenting books, but I did just finish Michelle Obama’s book and was able to see her speak in Portland. She also spoke at my graduate commencement. It was an honor to be able to see her twice in one lifetime.

 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

A pickled pig’s tail. I’m pretty sure it gave me an infection.