Forest supervisors are “line officers” responsible for everything that occurs in a national forest. I have the honor of guiding forest management on an incredible national forest landscape for a range of issues from vegetation and wildfire management to recreation and roads.
My love of learning contributes to my work on a daily basis because it keeps me interested in different perspectives and different ways of looking at challenges and opportunities. It helps me appreciate all the diverse perspectives people have on our work.
A common challenge is balancing different objectives when we plan vegetation management projects. For example, if we focus exclusively on reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire, we may impact habitats important for imperiled wildlife species. The challenge is finding a good balance.
We use GIS for everything! Mapping project areas, forest types, wildlife habitat, etc.
Reintroducing prescribed fires in areas where it hasn’t been for a long time to create healthier, more resilient forests.
I completed an internship with the Forest Service in the middle of my Ph.D. program and knew it was a good fit because I felt welcomed, intrigued, and right at home.
