Judith Oppong, Young or
Emerging Professional Award
The Young or Emerging Professional, UCFS's newest
award, is given to an urban forestry professional
30 years of age or under for making early, signif-
icant strides in their urban forestry career. The
2023 winner was Judith Oppong, who graduated
in May with her PhD from the Southern University
and A&M College Department of Urban Forestry,
Environment, and Natural Resources. Her doctoral
research focused on evaluating the impacts of the
soil amendment biochar on physical and chemical
properties of soils, especially in urban areas where
soil degradation is common. Judith is now a Precision
Agriculture and Remote Sensing Researcher in the
Tennessee State University College of Agriculture.
Johan Östberg,
President's Award
Outgoing UCFS President Earl Eutsler:
Throughout 2023, Johan provided regular feedback
to the Society on matters ranging from MFI curric-
ulum and structure to our overall brand. Due to his
global reach and experience, Johan broadened the
Society's understanding of the trends affecting urban
forestry practitioners. His ongoing engagement with
the Urban and Community Forestry Society has been
vital to our efforts to ensure we are providing inter-
nationally relevant resources for all of our members.
Young and Emerging Professional Award honoree
Judith Oppong working in the lab.
President's Award recipient Johan Östberg (left) of The Tree
Office, Sweden planted trees with USFS Research Ecologist
Nancy Sonti and Gustav Nässlander of The Tree Office
at Stillmeadow Peace Park in Baltimore, Maryland.
16 CityTREES
