Mentor and Staff Profiles

 

Richard E. Beal, Assistant Dean for Educational Outreach, ESF Outreach

Dr. Beal works on all aspects of ESF in the High School and other ESF educational outreach programs. He teaches an ESF environmental science course, Global Environment (EFB 120) and serves as one of the principal science mentors for ESF in the High School teachers and is a CO-PI on a number of grant-funded projects at SUNY-ESF. Rick has also developed several supplementary science curricular materials for secondary students available on our website for free.

Rick has worked at ESF on projects involving Biophysical Economics and simulation modeling. He participated in committees that developed both the Urban Ecology minor as well as the Urban Ecology course. He has a lead role in educational outreach programs that focus on enriching science teaching and learning for urban and minority students, including the ESF Environmental Challenge science fair for Syracuse City School District students. Rick is the Director at Large for Environmental Science for the Science Teachers’ Association of New York State and serves on the Project Watershed board of directors.

Rick is a graduate of Wilson Magnet School in Rochester, New York. He received a B.S. degree in 1991 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Buffalo in 1997. He was a Peace Corps teacher in Eritrea (East Africa) from 1997 to 1998. Rick is an avid soccer player and coach.

Sharon Weis, Administrative Staff Assistant, ESF Outreach

Sharon Weis is an Administrative Staff Assistant at SUNY-ESF. As such, she provides support to the Assistant Dean of Educational Outreach in the office of ESF Outreach. She works closely with the ESF in the High School enrollment process with teachers and guidance counselors, coordinates special projects as assigned and provides representation of office programs at SUNY-ESF events and broader community activities.

Previously, as an Outreach Project Staff Associate, Sharon coordinated a project funded by a $1.2 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to provide training and education in bioprocess engineering, indoor environmental quality, engineering and renewable energy.

Sharon is originally from Yorktown Heights, NY and earned a Bachelors degree from St. Lawrence University in Sociology. Prior to joining ESF she was as a Methods Analyst at Mutual of New York (MONY) and she worked extensively within the Liverpool Central School District. Weis joined ESF Outreach in 1999. She spends much of her free time visiting her children and extended family in Boston, Washington DC and Winston-Salem, NC, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Charles M. Spuches, Associate Dean, ESF Outreach

Chuck Spuches is Associate Dean for Outreach and Instructional Quality at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), and an adjunct associate professor in the Syracuse University graduate program in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation.

Recent ESF Outreach team projects include:

• ESF in the High School, a school/college collaboration program with partnerships throughout Central New York and Rochester, and New York City;
• An expanded faculty-driven continuing professional education initiative;
• Continuing professional education certificate programs in the areas of Engineering Design, Bioprocess Engineering, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Renewable Energy supported, in part, by a U.S. Department of Labor grant;
• The ESF Science Corps, established with support from a National Science Foundation grant; and
• ESF SCIENCE (Summer Camps Investigating Ecology in Neighborhood and City Environments) supported, in part, by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant.

In addition to his administrative duties, Spuches teaches traditional classroom and online courses on educational project management, planned change and innovation, college teaching, and university outreach.

Benette A. Whitmore, Director, Writing Center, Instructor, Environmental Studies

Currently in her tenth year at ESF, Benette teaches writing and public speaking courses at the college. She recently developed a service learning component to a technical writing class, where her students mentor middle school students at Shea Middle School (Syracuse City School District). Benette designed and taught a literature of nature course offered through the SUNY Learning Network. Coordinator of ESF’s Writing Resource Center, Benette received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999.

Benette holds a B.A. from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and an M.A. from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. She is a doctoral student in S.U.’s Cultural Foundations of Education program. Benette has published six children’s books as well as adult fiction, and she was head writer for a nationally-broadcast children’s television program, Pappyland, which TV Guide named as one of the “Ten Best New Kids’ Shows” in 1996.

Dudley J. Raynal, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology

Dr. Raynal has been a member of the Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology (EFB) at ESF since 1974 and served at the Assistant, Associate and Professor ranks before being named Distinguished Teaching Professor in 1992. He regularly teaches Systematic Botany which involves the identification and classification of flowering plants, and Plant Ecology. During summers, he teaches field biology at the Cranberry Lake Biology Station in the Adirondack Mountains. Dudley’s research focuses on plant life history investigations, population ecology, community development, and ecosystem dynamics. With his students and colleagues he has contributed more than 80 scholarly and scientific papers in the ecological literature.

Dudley received a B.S. degree in biological sciences from Clemson University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1974. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has been recognized by the Society of Sigma Xi, Syracuse Chapter, with the Outstanding Faculty Research Award. He was recently named Fulbright Senior Scholar, lecturing in environmental biology at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He mentors several graduate students and has been Graduate Director in EFB. He has served ESF faculty governance including a term as Executive Chair of the ESF faculty, chair of the public service committee, and chair of the committee on instructional quality. He enjoys reading, hiking, and gardening.

Dudley, with Chuck Spuches, is cofounder of the ESF in the High School program.

Terhi Majanen, Project Staff Associate, ESF Outreach

Terhi Majanen is Project Staff Associate in the SUNY-ESF ESF Outreach office. She coordinates the National Science Foundation GK12 project that supports the ESF in the High School program, as well as, the Outreach summer programs (ESF SCIENCE: Science Camps Investigating Ecology in Neighborhoods and City Environments).

Terhi has a BA in Geography from University College London and earned her M.Phil. in Environment and Development at the University of Cambridge, U.K. Prior to joining ESF Outreach in 2007, Terhi worked at Conservation International in Washington, DC. Terhi has taught IST 101: World Regional Geography at Utica College and GEO 155: The Natural Environment at Syracuse University. Her interests include protected areas and biodiversity, sustainable development, and environmental education.

Having lived and worked in Finland, Tanzania, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Germany, the U.K., and now the U.S., Terhi loves to travel. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, reading, squash, and volunteering at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Robert Malmsheimer, Assistant Professor of Forest Policy and Law, and ESF Pre-law Advisor, Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management

Dr. Malmsheimer teaches Introduction to Legal Processes, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, The Law of Natural Resource Administration, and Natural Resource Law. His research focuses on how laws and the legal system affect forest and natural resource management. He also serves as ESF’s Prelaw Advisor. In 2001, Bob was the recipient of the ESF Undergraduate Student Association’s Distinguished Teacher Award.

Bob received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from SUNY ESF in 1986 and a J.D. from Albany Law School in 1989. He practiced law in Buffalo, NY for six years. Bob returned to ESF and completed his Ph.D. in Forest Resource Management in 1999. Bob is a member of the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources’ Timber Theft Advisory Committee, and is a member of the New York Society of American Foresters’ executive committee.

Jo Anne C. Ellis, Senior Assistant Librarian, Moon Library

Jo Anne received a Bachelor of Arts degree (dual major in German and library science) in 1971 and a master's in library science in 1972 from Syracuse University. She has worked in several Central New York libraries, and has been at ESF since 1998. Her current position includes cataloging, reference service, and teaching an undergraduate course on information literacy. Jo Anne provides mentoring to ESF in the High School adjunct instructors in the areas of research strategies and use of the ESF library and its online library information system.

Jane M. Verostek, Senior Assistant Librarian, Moon Library

Jane has worked at ESF as a librarian since June 1998. She has been actively involved with assisting students with research needs by working with students at the library's reference desk, teaching an information literacy course, and guest lecturing about the library's resources in other ESF courses. Jane also works on operational aspects of the library and maintains software and hardware computer support for staff and public computers in the library. Jane provides mentoring to ESF in the High School adjunct instructors in the areas of research strategies and use of the ESF library and its online library information system.

Jane received a B.S in Environmental Science from ESF in 1992, and a master's in library science in 1972 from Syracuse University. In the past, Jane has held positions at the Syracuse University Law Library, ERIC (The Educational Resource Information Center), Gaylord Brothers and local Onondaga County public libraries. Jane's interests include crafts and antiques - especially those with local Syracuse ties, as well as an enjoyment of baking and cooking.

Thomas E. Amidon, Professor and Former Department Chair

• Ph.D., Silviculture, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1974.
• M.S., SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1972.
• B.S., Forest Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1968.

Tom is a Professor and former Chair in the Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering,SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 6/2000-Present

• International Paper,1976-6/2000
• Laboratory Manager, Corporate Research Center, Tuxedo, NY, 1994-6/2000
• Manager, Primary Process Development, Corporate Research Center, Tuxedo, NY 1989-1994
• Quality Improvement Process Facilitator, Process Technology, Mobile, AL 1987-1989
• Program manager for wood and pulp properties, Pulp Manufacturing Technical Support group, Mobile, AL.1984-1987
• Manager, Forest Sciences,1982-1984
• Research Analyst1980-1982
• Research Associate and Senior Research Associate 1976-1980
• Instructor, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering; Postdoctoral Associate, Empire State Paper Research Institute 1974-1976

Mr. Amidon’s Technical Achievements:

• Managed group that developed and moved through pilot stage to commercial application, in less than three years, patented deinking technology. Problem solving during pilot and startup accomplished with research staff and extraordinary secrecy maintained through major scale-up effort.
• Participated in developing and patenting novel approaches to papermaking.
• Responsibility for developing novel technology for bleaching has led to patent positions and major investments at mill locations. Corporate savings of several million dollars per year have been documented, but the large returns were in cost avoidance.
• Pulp mill, bleach plant, and paper machine problem solving responsibilities led to annual savings averaging over one million dollars per year in reduced costs.
• Facilitator for over 25 teams per year on multi-group, multi-business, and multi-company problems. Rating for this effort was outstanding.

Christopher Nomura, Assistant Professor, Chemistry Department

Dr. Christopher T. Nomura's research interests center on using molecular techniques to improve the supply of precursors for biobased products. Examples include using protein and metabolic engineering techniques to generate recombinant bacterial strains to enhance production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biodegradable polymers from renewable resources such as sugars and plant oils. Current and previous studies have used rational design of fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes based on x-ray crystal structures to alter their substrate specificity to provide monomers for PHA biosynthesis. Other research interests include genomic and microarray studies, in vitro evolution for enzyme improvement, microbial physiology, biodegradable polymer production, and polymer characterization studies. He has also authored numerous publications.

Dr. Nomura earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology from Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he served as a Postdoctoral Associate at the RIKEN Institute in Japan.

Neal M. Abrams, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

• B.S., 2000, Ithaca College
• Ph.D., 2005, The Pennsylvania State University
• Postdoctoral researcher, 2005 - 2007, Cornell University
• Lecturer, 2006 – 2007, Cornell University

Dr. Abrams’s interests lie in the areas of materials and inorganic chemistry, encompassing areas of alternative energies such as energy storage, photovoltaics, and fuel cells. Many issues in these research areas have been dominated by engineering solutions and rarely by chemistry applications. Dr. Abrams plans to explore new low-temperature synthesis routes for solid-state materials as well explore areas of energy storage and delivery for fuel cell applications.

Neal has a long history of teaching and education, including high school, college, and various forms of community outreach. As the instructor for General Chemistry labs at SUNY-ESF, he is introducing interactive, guided inquiry experiments to the laboratory. These laboratory experiences help develop critical thinking and organizational skills, essential for first-year students. Dr. Abrams also plans to become an active member of the Outreach community in Greater Syracuse.

Neal has a bachelors degree from Ithaca College and earned a Ph.D from Pennsylvania State University. Previous to joining ESF, he was a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Cornell University

Kelley J. Donaghy, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

• B.S., 1989, Syracuse University
• Ph.D., 1996, University of Pennsylvania
• Visiting Assistant Professor, 1997, University of Maine at Machias
• Assistant Professor, 1998-2005, American University

Kelley Donaghy’s current research interests include boron hydride chemistry, solid state materials, alternative fuels and chemical education. As a synthetic chemist she tries to solve problems by designing new routes to materials with environmental or medicinal applications. Two of her current projects include a better fuel cell separator and novel drugs for Boron neutron capture therapy.

Dr. Donaghy is also interested in chemical education research. She is working on innovative delivery methods for large lecture halls. She plans to research the effectiveness of power-point, classroom performance systems (clickers) and the use of games such as Chemical Jeopardy in enhancing student learning, enjoyment and retention.

Charles A. Hall, Professor, Department of Environmental & Forest Biology

As a systems ecologist, Dr. Hall’s varied research reflects interest in understanding and developing computer simulation models of how complex systems of nature and humans and nature operate. Charlie’s original work was in relatively undisturbed rivers and lakes and then in estuaries. Subsequently, he has become increasingly interested in studying systems of humans and nature using ecosystems perspectives by studying material and energy flows. Interested in synthesizing with Dr. Myrna Hall’s GIS and simulation modeling to make geographic modeling, Charlie recently completed a book synthesizing environmental, agricultural and economic information for the country of Costa Rica on a 1 km by 1 km grid cell basis. Doing most of his work in the tropics, Dr. Hall continues to work on various aspects of natural tropical forest and temperate stream ecosystems.Charlie and his students have recently undertaken a new project in a Puerto Rican rain forest using professional free climbing equipment and a LiCor CO2 meter to measure photosynthesis and respiration of the forest at 100 meter altitudinal levels from the bottom to the top of the Luquillo Mountains.

Dr. Hall’s principal interest is in energy. An EROI (Energy return on investment) Institute has been established and is rapidly expanding energy analyses, for example spatial analyses of corn ethanol net energy, EROI for global oil and gas production and modeling the US and global economy as peak oil comes and passes.

Robin W. Kimmerer, Professor, Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, Director Center for Native Peoples and the Environment

Dr. Kimmerer teaches in the Environmental and Forest Biology Department at SUNY-ESF. She teaches courses on Land and Culture, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Ethnobotany, Ecology of Mosses, Disturbance Ecology, and General Botany. She is the director of the newly established Center for Native Peoples and Environment at SUNY-ESF. The Center is part of her work to provide greater access for Native peoples to study environmental science. Kimmerer is a proponent of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) approach, which Kimmerer describes as a “way of knowing.” TEK is a deeply empirical scientific approach and is based on long-term observation. However, it also involves cultural and spiritual considerations, which have left it marginalized by the greater scientific community. Wider use of TEK by scholars has begun to lend credence to it.

Kimmerer has helped sponsor the Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB) project, which pairs students of color with faculty members in the enviro-bio sciences while they work together to research environmental biology. Kimmerer is also a part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program. The program provides students with real-world experiences that involve complex problem-solving. Kimmerer is also involved in the American Indican Science and Engineering Society (AISES), and works with the Onondaga Nation's school doing community outreach. Kimmerer also uses traditional knowledge and science collectively for ecological restoration in research. She has served on the advisory board of the Strategies for Ecological Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS) program, a program to increase the number of minority ecologists. Kimmerer is also the former chair of the Ecological Society of America Traditional Ecological Knowledge Section.

Kimmerer received the John Burroughs Medal Award for her book, Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Her first book, it incorporated her experience as a plant ecologist and her understanding of traditional knowledge about nature.

Her current work is spans traditional ecological knowledge, moss ecology, outreach to tribal communities and creative writing.

Donald J. Leopold, Chair and Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Environmental & Forest Biology

Dr. Donald J. Leopold earned his Ph.D. in forest ecology from Purdue University in 1984, his M.S.F. in forest ecology from the University of Kentucky in 1981, and B.S. in ornamental horticulture/nursery management from the University of Kentucky in 1978.  Since joining the Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) in 1985, Dr. Leopold has taught undergraduate and graduate students in dendrology, plant materials, freshwater wetland ecology, and numerous graduate seminars on conservation and restoration topics.  In 1998 he was promoted to Distinguished Teaching Professor, the highest professorial rank in the SUNY system.  In 1999, he was awarded the first SUNY ESF College Foundation Award for Exceptional Achievement in teaching.  In 2004, he was given the SUNY Research Foundation Excellence in the Pursuit of Knowledge award, and in 2007 received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.  Dr. Leopold was selected to be Chair of the Faculty, now Department, of Environmental and Forest Biology in February 2006. 

Dr. Leopold has published over 55 peer-reviewed papers, 6 books, 6 book chapters, 6 invited book reviews, 3 proceedings, and many miscellaneous publications, all generally about topics in forest and wetland ecology, and native plants.  Additionally he has garnered over $20 million of extramural funding as principal or co-principal investigator, was editor of the Natural Areas Journal for 6 years (1993-1999; associate editor 1990 - 1992), associate editor for the Journal of Forestry and is currently on the editorial board of the Northeast Naturalist.  He is a former chair of The Nature Conservancy, Central New York Chapter, and was awarded their Friends of the Land Award in 1995.  Dr. Leopold was panel manager for USDA’s Competitive Grants Managed Ecosystems Program in 2006 and 2007. 

Four of Dr. Leopold’s books are major treatments of trees in North America (Textbook of Dendrology; J.W. Hardin, D.J. Leopold, and F.M. White, 2001, McGraw Hill), the Midwest (Trees of the Central Hardwood Forests – An Identification and Cultivation Guide; D.J. Leopold, W.C. McComb, and R.N. Muller; Timber Press), of New York (Trees of New York; D.J. Leopold, 2003, Syracuse University Press), and of the South (Native Trees of the Southeast; L.K. Kirkman, C.L. Brown, and D.J. Leopold; 2007, Timber Press).  The Textbook of Dendrology is the primary dendrology text in North America, and is widely used in other countries.  Another book covers the state-protected plants of forests in New York (D.J. Raynal and D.J Leopold, 1999).

His fifth book, Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation (D.J. Leopold, Timber Press, Portland, OR), is a comprehensive guide to over 700 native trees, shrubs, vines, graminoids, wildflowers, and ferns that are valuable for garden and restoration plantings.  In August 2006 this book was given the Garden Writers Association Silver Media Award for excellence in horticultural writings.

Dr. Leopold has long been a member of the Ecological Society of America, the Society of Conservation Biologists, and Society of Wetland Scientists.  In 2007 he began serving (upon invitation) on the US Army Corp of Engineers National Technical Committee on Wetland Vegetation.  His current research primarily focuses on examining drivers of diversity at all scales in peatlands, and restoration of unique plant communities on alkaline industrial wastes in urban areas.  In August 2009, Dr. Leopold received the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association George L. Good Gold Medal of Horticulture Award for outstanding contributions to horticulture in the state of New York.

Terry L. Ettinger, Greenhouse Manager, Environmental and Forest Biology

B.S., Southern Illinois University, 1981; M.S., 1984

Mr. Ettinger manages the greenhouses at SUNY-ESF that were built in the late sixties and are used for research, to teach SUNY-ESF students and more. Most of the plants are for research purposes but the greenhouses are also open to the public.

Ronald J. Giegerich, Instructional Support Specialist, Department of Environmental & Forest Biology

Mr. Giegerich is curator of SUNY-ESF’s Roosevelt Wildlife Collection.

Myrna H. Hall, Director, Center for the Urban Environment, Research Assistant, Department of Environmental Studies

M.S., Natural Resources Management, SUNY-ESF, 1995

As Director for the Center for the Urban Environment at SUNY-ESF, Dr. Hall is charged with the college's Urban Initiative to expand collaborative, interdisciplinary study, research and public service activities aimed at creating livable communities for the 21st century.

Myrna’s interest is in integrating simulation modeling and geographical information systems for studying interaction between humans and their environments; natural resources management; sustainable development; graphic information visualization; foreign language communication

Theordore A. Endreny, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Resources and Forest  Engineering

As an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Resources and Forest Engineering at SUNY-ESF, Dr. Endreny is trained in natural resources management, water resources and ecological engineering, and tropical ecosystem conservation. He is also the Graduate Curriculum Coordinator and Operator of Engineering Hydraulics Lab at ESF.
Eddie Bevilacqua, Associate Professor, Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management

B.Sc.F, M Sc. F. Ph.D., University of Toronto (Forest Biometrics), 1998.

Tree and forest measurements, Growth and Yield Modeling, Tree-ring analysis, Applied Statistics, Geographic Information Systems.

Research Interests:

• Tree and forest measurements
• Tree growth and competition
• Stem taper and growth plasticity
• Tree-ring analysis
• Application of GIS technology in natural resource management
• Applied Statistics

Timothy Volk, Research Assistant, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Management

Dr. Volk earned a Ph.D. at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (Short-Rotation Forestry) in 2002.

His areas of studey are the Management of Sustainability of Short-Rotation Forestry (www.esf.edu/willow), Agroforestry, Phytoremediation and International Forestry.

S. Scott Shannon, Dean, Instruction & Graduate Studies, Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture

Education:

• SUNY Geneseo
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - BLA, 1982
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - MLA, 1988

Emanuel Carter, Associate Professor, MLA Curriculum Director, Department of Landscape Architecture

Education:

• Cornell University - B.A., 1969
• Cornell University - Master of Regional Planning, 1978

Susan E. Anagnost, Chair and Associate Professor, Assistant Director, N.C. Brown Center for Ultrastructure Studies, Department of Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering

Education:

Ph.D., SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry, 1990
M.S., SUNY-ESF, 1982
B.A., Gettysburg College, 1977

Areas of Study:

Wood anatomy
Decay of wood products
Mycology of indoor air
Light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Linda Fagan, Administrative Manager, Syracuse Paper and Pulp Foundation, Department of Paper Science and Bioprocess Engineering

Education:

• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - BS, 1993
• Onondaga Community College – AS, 1992

Linda currently manages a foundation that provides scholarships to students studying Paper Science or Paper Engineering. She is instrumental in securing corporate funds and alumni donations. Her job responsibilities also include job placement efforts for internships and permanent placement.

Linda has been at ESF since 2000, prior to that she worked in the paper industry for 7 years as a research chemist, quality control manager and process engineer. She serves as treasurer for the Empire State section of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry).and PIMA (Paper Industry Management Association).

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