City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1482923
about the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, a unique ecological system in the southern part of the state. I loved learning the species of trees and other plants and how everything interrelated. Fast forward to 2013, when I transferred to Rutgers University in New Jersey. I started as a Bioenvironmental Engineering major, but it took me less than a semester to conclude that this was not my career path. I changed my major to Environmental Science and then to Ecology, and was happiest there, in part because there was quite a bit of field work involved with the Ecology courses. I still felt like I wanted to do more, so I started looking at a second major. I found my way to the Environmental Design: Urban Forestry option. I'd met with Urban Forestry Professor Dr. Jason Grabosky, and after listening to him speak about urban forestry, it was sealed. I added that as my second major and he became my advisor. I was the test student for a pilot of this new major that he was developing, and it was one of the best expe- riences I have ever had. I had a lot of one-on-one courses with Dr. Grabosky and was able to experi- ence a unique education pathway. The combination of my time studying under Dr. Grabosky and the connections that Rutgers Urban Forestry Program Outreach Coordinator Pam Zipse made for me in this field really fueled my passion for urban for- estry and assisted me greatly in my career today. After graduating Rutgers in 2017, I took a four-year hiatus, working in various urban forestry jobs, before going back to school for a graduate degree. My MFI experience in 2020 really motivated me to partici- pate more with SMA and piqued my interest in the Urban Forestry Certificate Program from Oregon State University (OSU) under Dr. Paul Ries. Before I enrolled, I was mentored by Joe Benassini through SMA's mentoring program; Joe helped guide me to the conclusion that I was ready to do the OSU program. I've now completed several semesters of the program, a great experience that allows me to study while working full time. It's been so positive that I've now added the full online OSU Master of Natural Resources program to my education plate. What has been your career trajectory? I worked part time during college for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Mike (left) with some of his MFI 2020 cohort and guest speaker Beattra Wilson (center), U.S. Forest Service Assistant Director, Urban and Community Forestry. 22 CityTREES