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Faculty Profile
Mariann Johnston

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Mariann Johnston

Professor and Director of Ranger School

Department of Sustainable Resources Management
Wanakena Campus

[email protected]
315-848-2566

Position

Director of SUNY-ESF Ranger School. Responsible for academic delivery of A.A.S. programs in Forest Technology, Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation, and Land Surveying Technology. Professor of Forest Ecology, teaching courses in forest ecology, soil science, and wildland firefighting. Ensuring all supports are in place to produce excellent field technicians!

Responsibilities include:

  • Strategic planning to ensure continued monitoring, progress, and success of the Ranger School programs, operations, and facilities
  • Ensure student support to enable academic success
  • Supervise faculty and professional staff to ensure efficient and functional operations
  • Maintain professional accreditation of forest technology (SAF) and land surveying technology (ABET) programs
  • Support program and institutional accreditation under ESF's Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Conduct regular, structured assessment of student success in meeting program learning objectives
  • Project budgets and oversee financial management of state and foundation accounts
  • Collaborate with Facilities staff to ensure maintenance needs are met and coordinate capital and related large-scale projects
  • Oversee student residential life including residence hall spaces and food service
  • Serve on college committees in membership and/or leadership roles
  • Ensure effective communications and collaboration between SUNY ESF and the Ranger School (Wanakena regional campus)

Highest Education

Ph.D., University of Idaho (Forest Nutrition), 2003

Areas of Study

  • Nutritent Ecology of Beech and Beech Bark Disease
  • Forest Health and Nutrition
  • Forest Fertilization
  • Forest Soils & Ecology
  • Forest Management

Courses Taught

  • FTC 206 — Forest Ecology
  • FTC 217 — Wildland Firefighting and Ecology
  • FTC 237 — Introduction to Water and Soil Resources

Certifications and Awards

  • Recognition of Contribution to Mosquito Surveillance Program, St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators, August 2025
  • New York Society of American Foresters Distinguished Service Award, 2022
  • Society of American Foresters Fellow, 2021
  • SUNY-ESF Special Recognition Award, for Positively Influencing the Experience of a 2013 Graduate
  • 2012 New York Society of American Foresters Chair's Commendation
  • Certified Forester (SAF) 2004-2024
  • Inland Empire SAF Communicator of the Year, 2004

Professional and Community Service

Professional Service

  • Society of American Foresters National Nominating Committee, 2022-present (Committee Chair 2024-present) 
  • Panel Session Moderator, Society of American Foresters 2025 Annual Convention, Sept 18, Loveland CO
  • Society of American Foresters Board of Directors, District 6 Representative (New York and New England), 2019-present (three-year term ending December 31, 2021) 
  • Member, National Society of American Foresters Certification Review Board, 2015-2018 
  • Immediate Past Chair, New York Society of American Foresters, Term 2015-2016 
  • Chair, New York Society of American Foresters, Term 2013-2014 
  • Meeting Co-Chair, New York and New England Joint Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting, 2013, Saratoga Springs, NY 
  • Chair-Elect, New York Society of American Foresters Term 2011-2012 
  • Meeting Chair, New York Society of American Foresters 2012 Annual Meeting, Syracuse, NY 
  • SUNY-ESF Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Management Honors and Awards Committee Member, 2010-2012 

Community Service

  • Jefferson Community College Hockey Club Travel Manager, 2023-24
  • Thousand Islands Youth Hockey Association, Snowbelt Midgets game support, 2019-2020
  • Indian River Marching Warriors Field Band, Pit Crew 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 seasons 
  • Thousand Islands Youth Hockey Association, Bantams Manager 2016-2017 
  • Ft. Drum Boy Scout Troop 26 Committee Secretary, 2015-2016
  • Star Lake Cub Scout Troop 28 Committee Chair, 2013-2014 
  • Clifton-Fine Figure Skating Association, children’s skating program coach 2009-2012 
  • Ossipee Co-op Preschool Board of Directors, Ossipee, New Hampshire, 2005-2008
  • Planning and Zoning Commission, Potlatch, Idaho, 1996-2004 

Selected Publications

Zarfos, M.R., Lawrence, G.B., Beier, C.M., Page, B.D., McDonnell, T.C., Sullivan, T.J., Garrison-Johnston, M.T., and Dovciak M., 2024. Environmental Change Drivers Reduce Sapling Layer Diversity in Sugar Maple-Beech Forests of Eastern North America. Ecosystems, published 28 Oct 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-024-00930-z. 

Goswami, S., Fisk, M.C., Vadeboncoeur, M.A., Johnston, M.T., Yanai, R.D., and Fahey, T.J., 2018. Phosphorus limitation of aboveground production in northern hardwood forests. Ecology 99(2):438-449. 

Cale, J.A., Garrison-Johnston, M.T., Teale, S.A. and Castello, J.D., 2017. Beech bark disease in North America: Over a century of research revisited. Forest Ecology and Management 394(2017):86-103 

Cale, J.A., Teale, S.A., Johnston M.T., Boyer G.L., Perri, K.A. and Castello J.D., 2015. New ecological and physiological dimensions of beech bark disease development in aftermath forests. Forest Ecology and Management 336(2015):99-108.

Cale, J.A., Ashby, A.W., West, J.L., Teale, S.A., Johnston, M.T., and Castello, J.D., 2014. Scale insects, decay and canker fungi in American beech. Forest Pathology (in press).

Kimsey, M.J. Jr., Mariann T. Garrison-Johnston and Leonard R. Johnson, 2010. Characterization of volcanic ash-influenced forest soils across a geoclimatic sequence. Soil Science Society of American Journal In Press.

Garrison-Johnston, Mariann T., Peter G. Mika, Dan L. Miller, Phil Cannon and Leonard R. Johnson, 2007. Ash Cap Influences on Site Productivity and Fertilizer Response in Forests of the Inland Northwest. IN: Page-Dumroese, D., R. Miller, J. Mital, P. McDaniel and D. Miller, tech. eds. 2007. Volcanic-Ash-Derived Forest Soils of the Inland Northwest; Properties and Implications for Management and Restoration. November 9-10, 2005, Coeur d’Alene, ID. Proceedings RMRS-P-44; Ft. Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station.

Garrison-Johnston, Mariann, Terry Shaw, Peter Mika and Leonard R. Johnson, 2005. Management of ponderosa pine nutrition through fertilization. IN: Martin W. Ritchie, Douglas A. Maguire, Andrew Youngblood (technical coordinators). Proceedings of the Symposium on Ponderosa Pine: Issues, Trends, and Management. 2004 October 18-21 Klamath Falls, OR. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-198.  Albany CA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station.

Moore, J.A., P.G. Mika, T.M. Shaw, and M.T. Garrison-Johnston, 2004. Foliar nutrient characteristics of four conifer species in the interior northwest, USA. Western Journal of Applied Forestry, 19(1):13-24.

Garrison-Johnston, M.T., 2003. Development of nutrient status in forest soils, pp. 58-62 in Stone, J. and Maffei, H. (Eds): Proceedings of the Fiftieth Western International Forest Disease Work Conference, October 7-11, 2002, Coast Town Centre Hotel, Powell River, BC, USDA Forest Service, Central Oregon Forest Insect and disease Service Center, Bend, OR.

Garrison-Johnston, M.T., J.A. Moore, S.P. Cook and G.J. Niehoff, 2003. Douglas-fir beetle infestations are associated with certain rock and stand types in the inland northwestern United States. Environmental Entomology, 32(6):1354-1363.

Garrison, M.T., J.A. Moore, T.M. Shaw and P.G. Mika, 2000. Foliar nutrient and tree growth response of mixed-conifer stands to three fertilization treatments in northeast Oregon and north central Washington. Forest Ecology and Management 132: 183-198.