Tracy Connell Hancock, Director of Knowledge Management and Communications

As a national director with the Forest Service in Research and Development, I oversee national program areas in science communications, technology transfer, agency history, and information resources. I also help manage STEM education and staff who participate in the Moon Trees project.

Be curious and flexible. Do not be shy or afraid to fail. If you are interested in something, dig into the topic. Ask your teachers if you can do a special project or ask for help in connecting you to a adult who works on that topic in their job. Try and try again and always follow your passions.

A question I have tried to answer in my job is: How can we improve our customer service and better use science and technology to care for our land and serve more people? We strive to help our scientists tell their stories and share their research results, capabilities, and technologies.

We use the internet every day to help share stories of how our science in Forest Service Research and Development changes lives, solves problems, and offers innovative solutions to protecting the environment and human health. With the internet, we can reach a wide array of partners and stakeholders

Early in my career, I was a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Working with my lab group, together we discovered a new microbe (bacterium) that helped with agricultural sustainability and mitigating destruction of our protective ozone layer. We got a patent on our microbe. It was exciting!

My job as a staff director fulfills this passion as I enable my staff to be the best they can be and embrace the Forest Service motto to care for the land and serve people.