New SUNY-ESF Strategic Plan Environmental Jobs and Careers
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SUMMER 2015 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 219 Bray Hall, One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210-2785 dents as emerging leaders in their specific ient and rich in possibilities. New SUNY-ESF Strategic Plan environmental jobs and careers. One of MISSION—To inspire environmental so- the end goals of an ESF education is em- lutions through knowledge, creativity, and As we enter into the draft stages of a workable ployment. The Plan should incorporate values. Strategic Plan, now is the time to be sure that the current strengths of the departments ESF’s mission includes outstanding of the College as individual disciplines and teaching, research, scholarship, practice the alumni voice is heard. link them to their professional associa- and outreach programs focused on build- tions; that connection between profession- ing sustainable communities and environ- ver the past year, College Presi- presented in the Plan, but to highlight al associations and students establishes ments. We develop creative and effective dent, Dr. Quentin Wheeler, has some concepts that we feel are integral to employment connections and collegiate/ solutions to environmental problems and O been gathering information and in- providing our students with a well-round- professional networks. natural resource utilization issues through put from faculty, staff and students on cam- ed, relevant education with skills that are As alumni of ESF, a College with a long- discovery, design, management, practice, pus regarding a new Strategic Plan that will easily transferrable to the marketplace. standing history of producing environmen- and the integration of social, economic, lay the groundwork for the future direction The College has a history and mission of tal leaders, it is your duty to ensure that technological, and environmental systems. of the College. While our alumni population training environmental professionals and future generations of ESF alumni are pre- At our core is educating and inspiring to has been asked to participate in this process, the programs that support these careers pared to meet the challenges that lie ahead. action environmental leaders and acting as we have fallen short on providing feedback. have specific professional and technical re- As today’s stewards of the environment, a model of a new kind of environmentalism As we enter into the draft stages of a work- quirements. While the broader educational you are in a unique position to provide that is science based, values informed, and able Strategic Plan, now is the time to be initiatives in the Plan are valuable, it is im- insight and knowledge about how to best inclusive. sure that the alumni voice is heard. perative that the detailed technical require- educate our students for those needs. Over the past few months, members of ments of the professional programs such We urge you to review the highlights of Transformative Change: the Alumni Board have met with several as PBE, ERE, LA and Forestry remain. this first draft below and send your con- Urgency And Opportunity members of the Strategic Planning Com- The College’s founding charge of forest structive comments and input to the Alum- Evolutionary biologists understand mittee, including Dr. Wheeler, to gain a stewardship has placed us at the forefront ni Office. Comments may be mailed to ESF well that when environmental conditions more comprehensive understanding of the of every forest-related initiative in NY and Alumni Association, 219 Bray Hall, Syra- change radically, an organism must either thought process and the guiding principles the nation for 100 years. In order to remain cuse, NY 13210 or emailed to alumni@esf. adapt or face extinction. The environment behind the initial draft proposal below. an environmental leader, the Plan should edu. All comments will be forwarded to in which ESF works is changing rapidly: While the overall idea of growth, multi- incorporate our original forestry mission Dr. Wheeler and the Strategic Planning state allocations are reduced with no ex- disciplinary instruction and outreach are a while still having the academic adaptability Committee. pectation of improvement; demographic solid basis for ensuring that our students to address current environmental issues. It trends in the northeast U.S. suggest that are meeting the current needs of our soci- is critical that while we plan for the future, SUNY-ESF Strategic Plan (DRAFT) competition for students will intensify; the ety, the methods for achieving those goals the history and strength of the College is Excerpts only—The Full draft is available great environmental challenges of our time are varied. The purpose of this document not forgotten. online at www.esf.edu/strategicplan are so large, so complex, that they cannot is not to advocate for or against the ideas The College’s mission is to place stu- VISION—A world environmentally resil- Please see THE PLAN, Page 3 Where Are They Now? SCME Majors Rolla “Rod” Cochran, Assistant to the President for Community Relations Find New Home Insights on the history of the College including: the name change in PBE & FNRM from the New York State College of Forestry to SUNY-ESF; the eginning with the fall 2015 mission of the College circa 1911; the turbulent 1970s, and more… semester, the College’s pro- TABLE OF CONTENTS B grams in wood products and wood science will be housed in the De- 2 | College President’s Message by Justin Culkowski ’73 partment of Paper and Bioprocess En- Alumni Director Emeritus Alumni Assoc. President’s Message gineering (PBE) and the College’s programs in construction management 5 | Annual Department Updates The article below is written primarily in will be housed in the Department of a narrative style by the College’s retired Forest and Natural Resources Manage- 12 | Alumni Memorial Scholarships Assistant to the President for Community ment (FNRM). The Department of Sus- Relations, Rod Cochran. Rod is an avid and tainable Construction Management 14 | Event Photos skilled fisherman and is also a gifted writer. and Engineering (SCME), which cur- In fact, his fishing articles have appeared rent houses the aforementioned pro- 16 | Shop the ESF Bookstore in numerous national outdoor magazines. grams will be dissolved. 20 | Class Notes I asked him to answer a few questions with special attention to the College’s history. I 27 | ESF Bookshelf asked him to specifically share his historical No academic programs insights on the College’s name change, as he INCLUDED was in a key position in public relations when are being eliminated the College made this historic transition in in this restructuring. ALUMNI ENTREPRENEURS 1972. Additionally and importantly, he was a M. Amadori ’12 & Full Circle Feed trusted advisor to several college leaders over Page 13 many years. You will no doubt learn some new No academic programs are being insights as you read this article. ❛❛I’ve always thought that eliminated in this restructuring. The academic program names will be un- CONGRATULATIONS Rod Cochran was also my first boss at ESF, I was privileged to have been changed. Additionally, the External starting in 1978. I was a student who entered at the College to witness Advisory Board that has served SCME Graduating Student Survey the NY State College of Forestry in 1969 but will remain intact and advise the Con- Page 18 who graduated from the SUNY College of some of the ‘old times,’… struction Management program within Environmental Science and Forestry in 1973. from the first half century.❜❜ FNRM. When he shares that the process of changing In this reorganization, all of the Col- LEADERSHIP the name involved “endless discussions,” he lege’s programs in wood science and was putting it mildly, as I recall discussions od began his academic career by utilization will now be administered SUNY Chancellor’s Award that turned into arguments by students and R earning a B.A. in Biology in 1949 within a single department (PBE). Fur- for Student Excellence faculty both for and against the renaming of from Denison University, and an ther, FNRM will take ownership for all Page 19 the College. Changing the name of the College M.S. in Wildlife Management in 1951 from of the College’s programs focusing on in this era took extraordinary determination Ohio State University. After college, Mr. Co- sustainable management. These moves as world events upset the normally peaceful chran found himself in the Army where he are intended to create larger and stron- ALUMNI & FAMILY FALL BBQ WEEKEND atmosphere on college campuses around the heard a great deal about the College of For- ger departments in wood utilization country and changing the College’s identity in estry from Gerard “Gerry” Thomas ’51 who and sustainable management as well Registration Form & Lodging Info this way only added to the turmoil. Please see COCHRAN, Page 3 as improve administrative efficiency. 1 Page 28 2 Alumni News SUMMER 2015 www.esf.edu/alumni Dr. Quentin Wheeler STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK College President’s Message | COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORESTRY THE ESF ALUMNI ❛❛I am pleased to tell you that beginning in May, 2016, SUNY-ESF ASSOCIATION, INC. will hold its own commencement exercise officially conferring ❜❜ BOARD OF DIRECTORS degrees and inviting graduates to flip their tassels. 2014–2016 PRESTON S. GILBERT ’73 President iele grüsse aus Deutschland, ordinated system of research sites. This to the job and has hit the ground running, JOHN K. BARTOW, JR. ’82 (Greetings from Germany). I am is an important issue not yet directly ad- helping to coordinate efforts and advanc- Secretary-Treasurer V writing from Hannover, Germany, dressed in the planning process, along es for about three dozen initiatives already ERNA BAUMANN ’68 where I have been invited to give the key- with a deeper consideration of our options underway.