spring2011NRESnewsletter
- 1. A Message from the NRES Steering Committee Chair By Dr. Mary A. Arthur We have great news to report regarding the program! First, the new curriculum and name change received final approval late last fall, so our program is now officially the Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES) program. As we announced in an earlier newsletter, the revised curriculum requires students to focus part of their coursework in an Environmental Systems Emphasis Area (ESEA) and an Analytical Skill Development (ASD) selection. Students will then select an internship or research experience that is integrated with their ESEA and/or ASD. And perhaps even more exciting, we will be hiring an Academic Coordinator for the NRES program, the first person hired specifically for our program, whose time will be dedicated 100% to NRES! The Academic Coordinator will be responsible for coordination of the NRES academic program, including communication with students, alumni, and stakeholders; support for the internship program and the annual NRES Internship Forum; and course instruction. The program webpage has been updated (http://www.ca.uky.edu/NRES/), and we are now on Facebook, too. Join the NRES Facebook page (called “UK Natural Resources and Environmental Science”) for access to program- related updates! In this issue of the newsletter, we highlight two local alumni. E.J. Bunzendahl, ‘93, was a student in the first class of NRCM students, and is now working with the USDA Forest Service on the Daniel Boone National Forest. E.J. offered a fire training to our NRES and Forestry students this February. Kristy Stroud, ‘06, is a Conservation Education Program Leader at the Salato Wildlife Center in Frankfort, an organization that also sponsors interns. This issue also highlights an internship being conducted at the Lexington Division of Environmental Policy. Two courses are highlighted in this issue, one that is required of all NRES students, NRE 301, and one that is an option for students choosing the Human Dimensions and Natural Resource Planning for their Environmental Systems Emphasis Area, Introduction to Continued on page 2 Opportunities Beyond the Classroom 2 What is unique about NRES? 4 NRES Capstone Course 2010 6 Student Internship: Shawn Rice 7 Student Highlight: Sarah Wightman 8 Featured Courses 9 Faculty Profile: Dr. Infanger 3 NRES Advisors 12 Professional Resources 5 Alumni Highlight: EJ Bunzendahl 11 Alumni Highlight: Kristy Stroud 10 Inside this Issue: Natural Resources & Environmental Science NewsletterSpring 2011 Volume 2, Issue 1
- 2. 2 Page 2 City and Regional Planning (GEO 285). Natural Resources & Environmental Science (NRE 301), taught by Dr. Larry Grabau, is a foundational course for this major. Introduction to City and Regional Planning (GEO 285) is taught by Lynn Phillips, and gets rave reviews for former NCRM students who have enjoyed her class. Dr. Craig Infanger is the subject of our faculty highlight in this issue. He has made very valuable contributions to the NRCM/NRES program through his involvement as a member of the curriculum Steering Committee and as Chair of the Committee from 2003 to 2009. Sarah Wightman (’10), who graduated this past December, is our student highlighted in this issue. Sarah pioneered the format and content of the NRES newsletter, and contributed in other significant ways to the program. The goal of this bi-annual newsletter is to keep you informed of developments and accomplishments in the NRES program. If you have news you want to send for inclusion in the newsletter, or other comments or information, please email me at marthur@uky.edu. We are excited about the ways the NRES program is improving and growing, and aim to keep you informed of our activities. NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres In this economy, jobs are tough to come by, even with a bachelor’s degree. Lucky for recent graduates, there’s still a whole world of opportunities out there to build up resumes with valuable real world experiences in order to stand out from the rest of the applicants. Check out some of the options available: PEACE CORPS http://www.peacecorps.gov/ Ever dreamed of immersing yourself in a culture abroad and assisting in the development and sustainable progress of countries in need? Check out the Peace Corps, which offers dozens of two year commitment programs in many difference disciplines, including: Environmental Education, Forestry, Protected Areas Management, Agriculture, and many more. TEACH FOR AMERICA http://www.teachforamerica.org/ Teach for America is a program that provides teachers for young students in low-income communities and tries to balance educational inequities. If you’re interested in education, this is a great way to gain valuable teaching experience and help out the less fortunate. AMERICORPS http://www.americorps.gov/ Another great way to make a difference is through Americorps. This program is designed to provide an employment network of nonprofits around the country. If you’ve got a passion for service, Americorps has an opportunity for you, from the environment to community development and others. THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION http://thesca.org/ It never hurts to do more internships, and if an internship is what you’re looking for, the SCA is one of the best resources around. WORLD WIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC FARMS http://www.wwoof.org/ Interested in sustainable agriculture? Ever wondered what it’s like to grow coffee on the Hawaiian Islands, or what it would be like to grow potatoes on the shores of Ireland? WWOOF is an organization that connects organic farmers looking for help to young people interested in working on and learning about organic farms for a few months during peak season. NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL http://ww.nols.edu/ Ever wanted to learn about wilderness survival techniques, leadership, environmental ethics, and simultaneously participate in awesome outdoor recreation activities like snowboarding, mountaineering, and sea kayaking? Then NOLS has your name on it. Check it out! Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
- 3. 3 Page 3 Faculty Profile: Dr. Craig Infanger NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres Contact Dr. Craig Infanger at craig.infanger@uky.edu Dr. I at a village well ceremony near Lake Sevan, Armenia. Dr. I on a cold day in Red Square. (Russia) Although he seems a bit intimidating at first, Dr. Craig Infanger's bark is worse than his bite. He cares deeply about his students and wants them all to be successful, in his classes and in their career. Dr. Infanger grew up in the western US amidst public lands, and likes to share stories of his previous experiences that are meaningful to the students in his classes who could one day choose to follow in his footsteps or build on the foundation that he and other natural resources faculty and professionals have laid down. A B.S. degree in Economics from the University of Utah and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Washington State University eventually led Dr. I to UK, where he has spent 37 years of his professional career. In that time he has taught Natural Resource Economics (AEC 445) almost every year, and Natural Resource Policy Analysis (NRE 381) since 2002. In his years at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Infanger has been on leave four different times to work a total of seven years, five of which were outside of the United States. Dr. I says: “In Thailand I worked on a team trying to reorient the Ministry of Agriculture’s approach to working with poor, subsistence rice farmers in Northeast Thailand where soil fertility is low and rainfall highly variable. In Russia I worked as a policy advisor to the Minister of Agriculture in the new Russian Federation. I worked on a daily basis with his Economics Advisor on issues of land reform, privatization, and market development. Most recently I worked in Armenia as Director of a large U.S. assistance project which was trying to establish private sector agribusiness for meat and vegetable processing, wine production, and dairy products.” After his retirement, Dr. Infanger plans to move on to a new chapter in his life. He is actively seeking one last long-term international assignment, perhaps in Africa, with his wife of 43 years. In his free time, Dr. Infanger goes golfing regularly with a faculty group, visits his 11 grandkids who are spread out across the country (from Arizona to Oklahoma and Florida), and takes international vacations once a year. This year he and his wife are going to visit Casablanca and the Canary Islands. Reflecting back on his career, Dr. Infanger said that the launch of the NRCM degree attracted new, non- traditional students to the College of Agriculture, and that he felt a strong need to build an effective degree program for those students, which he admits was a struggle from time to time. He is positive about the progress the students have made, the dedicated faculty who have worked to build the program, and improve the curriculum. Although he says he will definitely miss teaching, Dr. Infanger feels that one of his professional legacies is that of a NRES program that is getting stronger and sending excellent graduates out in the real world. Dr. I was in Thailand from 1983-1985 working with scientists from the Ministry of Agriculture. Dr. Infanger in Russia, a cold day on Red Square.
- 4. 4 Page 4 NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres The NRES major simultaneously provides a broad education in the social and natural sciences that underpin natural resources and environmental science, and requires students to focus on an Environmental Systems Emphasis Area and an Analytical Skill Development area. This multidisciplinary curriculum allows everyone who comes through the program to follow their specific passion while building on the core disciplines. Coupled with the opportunities described below, students emerge from the NRES program with the necessary knowledge, excellent skills, and professional experiences that together can lay the groundwork for success in pursuing employment or graduate school. The curriculum is strongly writing intensive compared to many majors. One of the first courses in the major is NRE 301, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, which satisfies the University graduation writing requirement while focusing the writing on issues relevant to natural resources and environmental science. Two science courses, FOR 340 (Forest Ecology), and FOR 460G (Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management), also carry an emphasis on writing and nurture students’ abilities to analyze and write for scientific and lay audiences. NRE 381, Natural Resource Policy Analysis, requires students to develop their skills in writing professional and business memos. The Capstone course provides students with the opportunity to apply the skills and information acquired in previous courses to a specific natural resources problem, engaging professionals and other stakeholders to develop solutions. Students advance their skills in teamwork, analysis, professionalism, and oral and written communication as they work on a project that culminates in a final presentation accompanied by a written report. By conducting either an internship or a research project, students have the chance to work in a professional context on a matter that is of specific personal and professional interest to them. By connecting the choice of an internship or research project with the student’s chosen focus areas, they are able to build strong connections between academic work and application. Along the way, students go on field trips of various kinds, from the three-week summer camp that allows students to immerse themselves in the outdoor classroom, learning from both faculty and non- academic professionals, to a weekend trip to the Mammoth Cave Region, and coursework that incorporates field exercises, like Forest Ecology. Students also experience and benefit from one-on- one faculty interactions, initially through student advising, then enhanced through the familiarity developed by field trips, faculty accessibility, and in some cases, having the same instructor multiple times. To top it off, since the program has been in existence now for 18 years, there is a strong network of former graduates working in natural resources and environmental science jobs What is unique about the NRES major? (and how will it help you develop your career?) Photos by Sarah Wightman
- 5. 5 NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres Graduates of UK’s natural resource program have a wide variety of professional opportunities in many different sectors and disciplines. There are countless ways to approach the search for a new job, some of which are listed below. More can be found online: http://www.ca.uky.edu/NRES/professional. Government ♦ All Federal Jobs ♦ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ♦ National Park Service (NPS) ♦ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ♦ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ♦ Commonwealth of Kentucky ♦ Lexington-Fayette Urban County Consulting Industry ♦ Kenvirons ♦ Tetratech ♦ Stantech ♦ Third Rock Consultants ♦ Copperhead Consulting Non Profit ♦ Bluegrass Pride ♦ The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ♦ Defenders of Wildlife ♦ World Wildlife Fund Nationwide/Worldwide Environmental Job Sites ♦ Society for Conservation Biology Job Database ♦ Texas A&M Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science Job Board ♦ Society of Wetland Scientists Jobs Board ♦ Conservation Job Board Seasonal Employment/Internships ♦Coolworks ♦U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ♦The Student Conservation Association Professional Resources Upcoming Community Event: Reforest the Bluegrass Volunteer to participate in Reforest the Bluegrass, an annual event that has planted more than 185,000 tree seedlings since it’s inception in 1999! This year, Reforest the Bluegrass will be from 9 a.m.—1 p.m. on April 16, at Liberty Park. Register online at http://rtb2011.eventbrite.com/ Spotlight on Sustainability: Earthships Ever wanted to live “off the grid”? If so, you should consider building an Earthship. An Earthship is a building created based on the principles of sustainability. It is defined by six standards of construction: ♦ Thermal/solar heating & cooling ♦ Solar and wind electricity ♦ Contained sewage treatment ♦ Building with natural & recycled materials ♦ Wood harvesting ♦ Food production These houses look like a part of the landscape, not an obstruction of it. The original idea for Earthships came from architect Michael Reynolds, who has dedicated his life to “radically sustainably living” and has himself been living in an Earthship that he built since 1972. In New Mexico, where Michael Reynolds lives, there are entire communities of Earthship homes. He has published several books on the construction of what he calls “biotecture”, and the impact it could have on the world. Intrigued? Check out the website to learn more: http://earthship.com/
- 6. 6 Page 6 NRES Capstone Course 2010 Every fall the natural resources seniors take a class called Senior Problem in Natural Resources (NRE 471) with Dr. Larry Grabau, a class usually referred to as “the capstone course.” The purpose of the class is to give students the opportunity to work together and apply the skills and information acquired in previous courses to a real world natural resources problem. It involves a lot of research, interviews, and data collection and analysis, which culminates in a final report and presentation. Near the end of the semester, the students present their final product to faculty, other natural resources students, and real world professionals interested in the project. In the past, topics have ranged from the elk reintroduction in eastern Kentucky to recreational impacts in the Red River Gorge Geological Area. This year, the senior's capstone project examined the protection and creation of native wildlife habitat in Fayette County, Kentucky. According to their final report, improving wildlife habitat could provide a variety of benefits to the community, including slowing urban sprawl, improving water quality, and creating a more sustainable natural ecosystem. The team first assessed the current condition of wildlife habitat in Fayette County, then did a suitability analysis to assess which areas were most conducive to habitat restoration. For the third step of the project, the seniors administered a survey to determine public opinions on wildlife habitat (the results of which showed overwhelming support for habitat improvement), and the final part of the process involved creating a handbook and brochure as educational materials to the general public on wildscaping, or landscaping one's own yard with native species in a way that's conducive to wildlife. From the results of their research, the team of seniors also created a series of recommendations for the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). Some of the numerous recommendations made in their final report includes LFUCG beginning a process of preserving lands for wildlife habitat restoration, including making partnerships with surrounding counties to do the same and buying lands for the express purpose of wildlife habitat protection. The report also suggested a partnership between LFUCG and UK Cooperative Extension to distribute wildscaping educational materials, offering a free or low cost wildscaping consulting service, and adopting a wildscaping certificate program. Through this course, the NRCM seniors learned how vital teamwork can truly be, especially on extensive projects such as this. They also developed written and oral presentation abilities beyond what most students are expected to achieve as undergraduates. This allowed the seniors to develop applicable skills and get a taste of what it's like to be a natural resources professional. They are also planning to NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres The students created this map of Fayette County using the skills they learned in NRE 555, a class about Geographic Information Systems.
- 7. 7 Page 7NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres An aspect that originally intrigued me about the NRCM degree was the multi-dimensionality of the program. Where most courses of study tend to focus on increasing proficiency in a narrow field, the NRCM program allows students to gain a broad knowledge base across multiple disciplines. Fields like ecology and economics, soil science and hydrology, that may initially seem disconnected, are interwoven to form a foundation from which numerous paths can begin. While many of my contemporaries in the NRCM program have directed their efforts toward career paths dealing with the technical science aspects of the field, my interests have led me to focus more on the issues of policy and the burgeoning field of sustainability. Due to these areas of interest, my search for an internship was focused on private environmental consulting firms in the area, as well as governmental offices at both the state and local levels. Through months of networking with friends, family, and yes, even professors (essentially anyone who would listen to me) I was able to secure a position with the LFUCG Department of Environmental Quality. Working in the Division of Environmental Policy under Tom Webb, Senior Program Manager for Environmental Initiatives, I will have the opportunity to work on a diverse array of projects. The Environmental Initiatives component of the Division is responsible for developing and implementing programs relating to air quality, litter and recycling, EPA grant administration, energy efficiency programs, and, the project that I am most interested in, brown field redevelopment. The Division has recently acquired funding through the USEPA and KDEP to perform preliminary site selection for cleanup of brown fields contaminated by petroleum. This selection process will then lead to Phase I and II assessment of identified sites allowing for the acquisition of cleanup grant funding in the future. As this program is in its initial phases, I am getting firsthand knowledge of the procedures required to acquire federal funding for such projects and the steps necessary to satisfy the terms of EPA grants. I will also get hands on experience with site identification and EPA assessment protocol as the project moves forward. I feel that the knowledge and experience I gain in this position will greatly enhance my ability to secure a position with either a government agency or environmental consulting firm upon graduation Student Internship: Shawn Rice Did you know? If you purchase a “Nature’s Finest” Kentucky license plate, $10 of the cost goes toward the Heritage Land Conservation Fund. And you get to pick from three awesome designs! By Shawn Rice
- 8. 8 NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres NRCM 2010 graduate Sarah Wightman took advantage of as many opportunities as she could both in the classroom and outside of it while she was studying at UK. As a transfer student from Hope College, Sarah had to hit the ground running her junior year, so she devoted herself to learning as much as she could and took her classes seriously. After her first year at UK, Sarah interned with the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection's (KDEP) Division of Compliance Assistance (DCA), developing publications to help entities like gas stations and hazardous waste generators comply with environmental regulations. She also developed an extensive guide to help sporting event venues “go green” and adopt practices that save money, conserve natural resources, and contribute to a more sustainable local economy. Throughout her undergraduate studies at UK, Sarah also established herself in the world of natural resources beyond just a diploma, seeking jobs related to her major in order to add real world experience to her resume. Sarah worked with Dr. Rieske-Kinney and Melanie Antonik in the UK Entomology Department conducting invasive species field work throughout Kentucky. She also helped establish, develop, and write the NRCM/NRES Newsletter and other publicity materials under the supervision of Dr. Mary Arthur, Chair of the NRES Steering Committee. Sarah currently works in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department at UK with Steve Higgins and Amanda Gumbert on the Cane Run Watershed Project, managing the Watershed Based Plan, editing extension publications, and doing watershed restoration fieldwork. Sarah's favorite part of the NRCM degree was the variety of classes and the caliber of the professors, who she says are all very intelligent, accessible, and easy to work with. Her concentration in the NRCM program was Environmental Policy and Planning, and she also minored in French. Now that she's graduated, Sarah's next step is thinking about graduate and law school. She said she would like to pursue a master's degree in environmental/ watershed management and a law degree with an emphasis in an emphasis in natural resource policy and law. Her advice for current natural resources students is to always be on the lookout for internships, jobs, and research experiences that coordinate with their future career goals. “Be open to new experiences that may not be exactly what you are looking for. Sometimes those experiences can open your eyes to Sarah Wightman was the editor of both previous issues of the NRCM/NRES Newsletter, and she did an excellent job laying down the ground work and developing the content of this publication. Since Sarah’s graduation, the torch has been passed on to junior NRES student Sandy Broadus, who is responsible for the current issue. Sandy’s focus areas are Field and Laboratory Analysis of Ecosystems and Forestry. Sandy is also in charge of the upkeep of the NRES Facebook Page, so if you have any suggestions of content that you’d like to see included, feel free to contact her at san.marie@uky.edu. Student Highlight: Sarah Wightman
- 9. 9 Page 9 You may know Dr. Larry Grabau as the instructor of NRE 301, Natural Resources & Environmental Science, one of the first natural resource classes NRES students are exposed to once deciding on the major. Dr. Grabau has restructured the course since taking it on as the instructor in 2004. As an introductory class, NRE 301 is designed to provide incoming and prospective students an idea of what the major is about, and what the current natural resources issues are that we face today. Dr. Grabau invites a variety of guest speakers to his class to show students the different aspects of professionals in the field, from Monte McGregor who works with freshwater mussel restoration, to Will Bowling with elk and deer population, and Steve Greb, who talks to the students about coal management in Kentucky. Seeing a need for more education about karst environments, he set up a two-day field trip to the Mammoth Cave Region to teach the students about karst ecology and its interactions with human uses like recreation, agriculture, and industry. While away, the students stay in cabins and cook breakfast and dinner for each other as a group. Many students take guitars or frisbees for the down time, and often there's a bonfire at night. Aside from summer camp, NRE 301 is arguably the best social bonding experience that many natural resources students experience, giving them a foundation of familiar and friendly faces for the rest of their years at UK. NRE 301 also serves as the NRES program's means of satisfying the university's graduation writing requirement. Students pick their own topics for a series of papers for the class, and participate in a final team project that focuses on a natural resource issue in Kentucky. The atmosphere of the class is relaxed and inviting; class participation and discussion of issues is encouraged. Some students who took the class in Fall 2010 commented that they had truly learned to respect the views of others who had opposing points of view. Dr. Grabau also teaches NRE 471, the senior capstone course, featured on page 6 of this newsletter. Lynn Phillips teaches GEO 285, Introduction to City and Regional Planning in the UK Department of Geography. Under the new NRES curriculum, the class is available as a choice under the “Human Dimensions and Natural Resource Planning” Environmental Systems Emphasis Area. Lynn is currently finishing her PhD in Urban and Public Affairs from the University of Louisville, and her true love and research interests are in rural land preservation. GEO 285 teaches students about the historical and legal dimensions of city planning in the US, and students who take the class will also study zoning, subdivision regulations, historic preservation, transportation planning, environmental conservation and local land use regulatory approaches toward sustainability. Students are also required to attend two local government planning commission meetings, as this is where most development decisions are made, and simultaneously gives students the chance to see democracy in action. Lynn Phillips has been a member of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Planning Commission since 2004, and therefore has an understanding of current local development issues and is able to engage students in the process and outcomes of Planning Commission decisions. GEO 285 is where "the rubber meets the road" because it explains how development occurs, and how communities can do better jobs at facilitating sustainable development. This is especially important in the Bluegrass region, where our signature landscape sets us apart from other places in the Midwest. Students have said that they are able to see the built and unbuilt landscape differently after taking GEO 285, and interpret and experience development differently as well. Lynn Phillips also teaches GEO 485G, Urban Planning and Sustainability, which is a follow-on class to GEO 285. It provides greater detail, including review of academic research on issues of sustainability, and NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres Featured Course: Introduction to City & Regional Planning Featured Course: Natural Resources & Environmental Science
- 10. 10 Page 10 NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres I graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2006 receiving a degree in NRCM with a concentration in Plant and Soil Science. I am currently employed by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources at the Salato Wildlife Education Center as a Conservation Education Program Leader. I coordinate the calendar of events for Salato, conduct school programs for the many kids who visit us on a school field trip and create educational activities that promote hunting, fishing or boating. While in school during the summer months of 2005, I completed my internship at the Salato Center. I gained valuable information about native plants, habitat and learned about working with the public in environmental education. My internship opened the door for a future job opportunity. I have been employed with the Salato Center for almost five years gaining wonderful experiences on the job that have enhanced my career. Since graduation, I have become a certified environmental educator in Kentucky and a certified interpretive guide with the National Association for Interpretation. These are just a few of the professional development opportunities out there that you can complete before graduation. Currently, I am working on my Master’s in environmental science at Kentucky State University. I plan to continue educating the public on the environment and reaching younger kids to help them find their connection to nature. Alumni Highlight: Kristy Stroud Can you offer an internship or career opportunity to NRES students? UK’s NRES Program is a great source for qualified candidates! We have many students and recent graduates who are ready to gain hands-on experience in the natural resource and environmental science fields. Contact us today, and we will send your announcement through our student and alumni list serves and post it on campus. For more information, please contact Dr. Mary Arthur, NRES Steering Committee Chair, at marthur@uky.edu. By Kristy Stroud
- 11. 11 I started at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 1988. Throughout college I worked for the Girl Scouts of the USA teaching outdoor and environmental education in the summers. Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana I had spent a lot of time in the woods both recreating and working, but for some reason I had never considered pursuing a profession that allowed me to work outside. After considering several other majors, I wandered into the TPC Forestry building my junior year and found exactly what I needed. In 1993 I got to be part of the first class to graduate with what was then a degree in Agriculture specializing in Natural Resource Conservation. I also minored in Agronomy and immediately after graduation started working in a soil chemistry lab at the College of Agriculture, studying acid mine drainage. Even though the research I was assisting with was highly intriguing I quickly realized that being inside all day every day wasn’t what I wanted for my career. In 1994 I took a downgrade in pay to accept a seasonal laborer position with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. In addition to clearing and maintaining trails and exotic plant removal, the job with KSNPC was my first introduction to fire. I was sent to fire training and spent several weeks constructing prescribed burn control lines. Although the weather conditions to implement the prescribed burns didn’t occur, my interests were piqued. While at KSNPC, I made contacts with county forest rangers with the Kentucky Division of Forestry and in 1995 I took another seasonal position as a county crew leader during spring fire season. Thanks to my B.S. degree, by October of 1995 I had secured a full time permanent position as the Perry County Forest Ranger in Hazard, Kentucky. Averaging about 100 fires per year, my career in fire had produced both physical challenges and mental challenges. It was the perfect mix of strategy (knowing the woods and the weather to contain wildfires) and physical exertion (being able to implement the strategies). In the summer of 1998 I took a 6 month leave from the state to work as part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest Logan Interagency Hotshot Crew. With the crew, I worked fires in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana and was privileged to see some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere. In 2001 I started working with the USDA Forest Service and am now the Assistant Fire Management Officer on the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). I am proud to be part of an agency so rich in the history of caring for our public lands. As part of my duties in fire management I have had many opportunities to work with researchers, including Dr. Mary Arthur, studying fire ecology questions on prescribed burns on the DBNF. I would encourage current students and recent graduates to keep an open mind and actively seek out learning opportunities. Career decisions should be based on your passion and not on the paycheck. Doing what you love will provide you with rewards and Alumni Highlight : EJ Bunzendahl NRCM/NRES Newsletter Spring 2011 www.ca.uky.edu/nres By EJ Bunzendahl
- 12. 12 Dr. Mary Arthur is a Professor of Forestry. Her research addresses topics in forest ecology including forest change, prescribed fire, and invasive species. Dr. Chris Barton is an Associate Professor of Forestry whose research focuses on stream restoration following disturbance such as agriculture, mining, and logging. Dr. Mark Coyne is a Professor in the Plant and Soil Science Department, whose research includes bioremediation and waste application. Dr. Elisa D’Angelo, from the Plant and Soil Science Department, studies soil microbial ecology with biochemical and molecular techniques. Dr. Mike Lacki is a professor of wildlife ecology and management in the Deparment of Forestry. His research includes bat roosting habitats and prey- Dr. Larry Grabau is a Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences and focuses his research on organic and sustainable grain- cropping systems. Dr. Greg Halich, an Assistant Extension Professor of Agricultural Economics, focuses his work on grain crop, grazing, and timberland economic analysis. Dr. Craig Infanger is a Professor of Agricultural Economics and has researched the impacts of natural resource policies on agriculture throughout the world. Dr. Brian Lee, an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, applies geospatial analyses to watershed-based land use planning. Dr. Jack Schieffer is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics. His research explores the intersection of environmental policy and agriculture and the relationship between law Attention Alumni! Where have you taken your Natural Resource degree from UK? Wherever you are today, we would love to hear about your internship, travel experience, or career. Please contact Dr. Mary Arthur (marthur@uky.edu) to share your experience with other natural resource students. The Natural Resources and Environmental Science program is composed of faculty from a variety of disciplines, and the following faculty are currently available for student advising.