My prior experience as an attorney (six years) and a legislative intern (three years) influence my research and teaching interests. Our nation’s public and private forests produce may “public goods”: water, timber products, wildlife habitat, recreation, wilderness, rangelands, carbon sequestration, etc. Private landowners and public land administrators decide how these resources should be managed. My research explores natural resources administrative appeals and litigation and natural resources policy. My undergraduate and graduate courses reflect my research interests and integrate my research findings with student learning.

Information for Prospective Graduate Students: Each year, I select one to three new students to join me and my graduate students at ESF. These students have superior grade point averages (greater than 3.5 out of 4.0), GRE scores (50% or greater in all three categories), and recommendations. Most have returned to school after working for one or more years. While these students come from a variety of backgrounds (forestry, biology, law, liberal arts), they all share a love for learning, exceptional critical thinking skills, outstanding oral and written communication skills, and an interest in forest and natural resources policy and/or analysis. Most of my graduate students publish one or more manuscripts from their graduate studies and have teaching or research assistantships (which pay tuition and provide a stipend and medical benefits).

Research Assistantships Available: I am currently searching for a Masters and a Ph.D. student to expand and update databases and conduct research analyzing USDA Forest Service land management legal cases (see http://www.safnet.org/periodicals/Journal_of_Forestry_LitigationStudyJune2006.pdf for an example of some of our Phase I analysis). This is a unique opportunity to work on a project with significant publication opportunities and to develop quantitative and/or qualitative research tailored to candidates’ interests, including the development of predictive quantitative models. The successful candidates will receive a tuition waiver, medical benefits, a stipend (PhD = $16,000; and MS = $12,000), and other State University of New York Graduate Assistantship benefits. More information is available here.

Information for Prospective Joint Syracuse University Law School / ESF Students: Each year, I serve as major professor for a few students enrolled in Syracuse University's and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) joint Juris Doctor (JD)/Master of Professional Studies (MPS), which provides students with opportunities for interdisciplinary studies which focus on the legal aspects of resource conservation and environmental protection. The degree is designed for students interested in legal careers involved with forest, natural, and environmental resources. As human demands on the environment increase, society needs attorneys that understand the economic, demographic, social, and political issues that drive resource use allocation. Students learn the complexities of managing both resources and people recognizing that resource and environmental decisions involve value-driven conflicts. The degree provides a comprehensive foundation in forest, natural, and environmental resources issues and an understanding of both biophysical and social science. More information about the degree is available here.

If you are interested in working with me, please review this website and ESF’s Forest and Natural Resources Policy Group’s website and then send me an email describing your research interests and a copy of your resume. I look forward to hearing from you.