Campfire Sessions: Branching Out—Inside Classrooms and Canopies with Forestry School Deans

CAMPFIRE SESSION:
Branching Out—Inside Classrooms and Canopies with Forestry School Deans

JOIN US! July 30, 2025 | 2:00 PM ET | Online 

Forestry isn’t just about managing trees—it’s about managing the future. As the natural resource sector evolves under the pressure of climate change, workforce dynamics, funding hurdles, and shifting expectations, academic institutions are at the forefront of preparing the next generation of leaders.

This month’s Campfire Session—Branching Out: Inside Classrooms and Canopies—gathers a distinguished panel of deans from leading forestry and natural resource colleges to explore how higher education is rising to meet the moment.

From rethinking curricula and expanding research priorities to forging new industry partnerships, these academic leaders are shaping the future of forestry education and, by extension, the forests themselves.

What We’ll Explore:

• How forestry programs are adapting to shift global economic patterns
• Emerging areas of research in land management and more
• The critical role of partnerships—with government agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector
• Challenges and opportunities in student recruitment, retention, and post-graduate success
• Strategies to strengthen funding models

Whether you’re rooted in natural resources, policy, education, or industry, this is a must-attend conversation on the evolving landscape of forestry.

Meet the Panelists

Dr. Janaki Alavalapati
Dean, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University 

Dr. Alavalapati has led Auburn’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment since 2015, following academic appointments at Virginia Tech and the University of Florida. A globally respected scholar with more than 200 publications, his expertise lies in forest resource economics and sustainable land-use policy. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Alberta and institutions in India.

Dr. Dennis Becker
Dean, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho
An expert in natural resource policy, Dr. Becker has served as dean since 2018 after directing the Policy Analysis Group. His work focuses on evaluating the social and economic impacts of forest management and bioenergy. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Idaho and has served as a Fulbright Fellow in Norway.

Dr. Tom DeLuca
Dean, College of Forestry, Oregon State University

Dr. DeLuca is a forest soils scientist and ecosystem ecologist whose leadership at OSU has expanded research forests, enrollment, and interdisciplinary innovation across wildfire science, robotics, climate resilience, and Indigenous partnerships. He previously held leadership roles at Bangor University, the University of Washington, and the University of Montana.

Dr. Libby Metcalf
Dean, WA Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana

A social scientist at heart, Dr. Metcalf brings expertise in outdoor recreation management, human-wildlife interactions, and social-ecological systems. Her research explores values and behaviors driving conservation outcomes. She currently serves as the Joel Meier Distinguished Professor alongside her role as dean.

Dr. Todd Petty
Dean, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
With deep roots in fisheries ecology and watershed restoration, Dr. Petty brings decades of academic and administrative experience—from West Virginia University to Clemson—and now leads UGA’s forestry school. At Clemson, he helped grow student enrollment and expanded external research funding from $2M to $20M annually.

Register now and join us by the (virtual) campfire on July 30 at 2:00 PM ET.