College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Author: Windy Veker

Michigan Tech Faculty Build Connections with the Next Generation of Researchers in Suriname

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A close-up shot framing a person’s hands holding up two soil samples for comparison during a field excursion workshop in Suriname.
Michigan Tech faculty presented workshops on tropical forest management, conservation practices, and ethical research practices to students in Suriname this February—the second phase of a U.S. Embassy-funded grant project in the region. (All photos courtesy of the “Enhancing Academic Linkages and Research Capacity in Suriname” project)

This February, Michigan Tech faculty traveled to Suriname to build connections and help train the next generation of scientists and researchers. Their trip was phase two of the U.S. Embassy-funded grant project focused on fostering sustainable development and promoting ethical research practices in the country. Suriname is also the home country for Wayne Gersie, Michigan Tech’s vice president for community engagement and professor of practice in the Department of Psychology and Human Factors in the College of Sciences and Arts. 

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CFRES Welcomes Returning Husky as New Outreach Coordinator

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Sierra Williams in the greenhouse.
CFRES alumna Sierra Williams, shown here in the College greenhouse, returns to her alma mater as outreach coordinator, working with current and future Huskies.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) welcomes alumna Sierra Williams as outreach coordinator. She steps into her new position at Michigan Tech eager to pass on her love for the natural world, dedication to education, and Husky spirit to current and prospective students.

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Forestry Club Tree-dition Plants Seeds for a Merry and Bright Future

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Two forestry club members pose carrying a massive tree through the snowy woods.
Michigan Tech’s Forestry Club harvested 86 trees for their annual Christmas Tree sale from two Tech owned properties. All photos courtesy of club secretary Tristan Walk.

Michigan Tech’s Society of American Foresters Forestry Club’s annual tree sale is a long-standing tradition at Michigan Tech. Forestry Club secretary and forestry major Tristan Walk ’26 said the written record of the sale dates to the early 1980s, while the anecdotal record places the start of the tradition somewhere in the 1960s or 1970s. Club paperwork shows trees were bought wholesale from tree farms south of Chassell and in Iron River in the 1990s through the 2000s, although neither company offers bulk wholesale these days.

In recent years, the club has supplied their sale with wild-cut trees from Michigan Tech’s Wilkinson Tract. Students drive out into the woods and fan out on foot, assessing the types of trees they are looking for based on what is available in the area and what is best for the forest. Club members usually cut six- to eight-foot conifers as well as small “Charlie Brown” sapling trees, taking care to thin the area but not decimate the conifer population. They also seek out one larger 15- to 20-foot tree for the U. J. Noblet Forest Resources Building Atrium.

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Natural Resource Career Fair Helps Students Find their Path

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Hands holding a rectangular compass.
RJ Laverne, forestry ’80, displays one of his prized possessions: a compass he purchased in 1979 when he was a student at Michigan Tech.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science’s Natural Resource Career Fair continues a legacy of genuine investment in student success passed down from CFRES faculty and alumni to the next generation of professionals. R.J. Laverne, a Davey Tree company representative, Tech alum, and adjunct professor opened Career Fair by likening the event to one of his prized possessions: a compass he bought in 1979, not long after he became a Husky.

“I think that for the students who will participate today, you may just find the right person at one of these tables to point you in the right direction. This could be the career compass that puts you on the first step toward a successful career,” said Laverne, who earned his forestry degree in 1980.

He emphasized the impact Michigan Tech’s faculty had on his career, particularly former forestry head Gene Hesterberg. “I was, on a good day, a mediocre student. Despite my poor academic performance at other institutions, Dr. Hesterberg took a chance on me,” said Laverne.

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CFRES Faculty Tara Bal Elected Society of American Foresters Vice President

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Tara Bal kneels and inspects the forest floor outdoors on a sunny day.
Tara Bal inspects the forest floor as part of her research on the impact of non-native earthworms on northern hardwood forests. Bal was recently elected Society of American Foresters vice president.

Tara Bal, assistant professor of forest health in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, was elected vice president of the Society of American Foresters (SAF). The organization represents foresters and natural resources professionals, helping them promote thriving forests by bringing the best science, the best practices, and the best people together. Bal said the organization represents a community that ultimately supports sustainable forests and sustainable forest management, and one she has been a part of since she was a student.

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MTU College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Welcomes New Faculty

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Hallway in the UJ Noblet Building with carvings in the wood walls and animal specimens.
The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science is continually growing. This academic year brings new faculty experts in ecology, hydrology, natural resource management, and digital image processing. The college also celebrates new leadership and faculty appointments.

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science welcomed two new faculty members and celebrated our faculty moving into new positions in the college this year.

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