From the dean's perspective

Every change in leadership brings a new perspective, informed by unique experiences and fresh insight into the future. I’m grateful to my predecessors, honorary founding Dean John Hosner, interim Dean Dave Smith, inaugural Dean Greg Brown, and my immediate predecessor Dean Mike Kelly, for helping move the college forward. Leadership in a college is like a relay race. Each person gives their best in their leg of the journey before passing the baton. As I now pass it to incoming Dean Saskia van de Gevel, I know the college is in good hands for the next stretch of this long, ongoing marathon.

While the role includes daily administration and operations, its most important function is looking ahead, helping guide the college into the future. I often describe this as placing a tall ladder in the middle of the Drillfield and climbing it — to see what’s ahead and better prepare the college and our students.

So, what’s on the horizon?

A more complex world. Resource constraints will challenge future generations in ways we can’t fully predict. The exponential demand for energy — and the choices we make to supply it — will affect all natural systems. Regardless of the source, every form of energy impacts our environment. After all, we live in a closed-loop system called planet Earth.

Today’s K-12 students hold the future of natural resources in their hands. How do we reach, inspire, and mentor them toward careers in this field? We must offer the very best education available — it’s both our responsibility and our calling. Should we explore a civics-style natural resources education in K-12 and higher education to foster better stewardship?

Forests are essential to life. We must promote wise management across wild, rural, and urban landscapes, especially in cities where most people live. We need to apply more research and innovation to urban forestry, policymaking, and creating economic value for landowners providing ecosystem services.

Clean water will remain a global challenge. Forests support the water cycle, and practices like riparian buffers and agroforestry can protect resources. Urban water conservation and everyday individual choices will be increasingly critical.

Biodiversity faces growing threats from human activity and climate change. We must strip politics from climate science and let evidence guide our response. Science is a proven and worthy ally for humanity.

Emerging technologies offer new insights into managing complex landscapes. We must prepare students with a strong foundation in these tools and integrate advanced technologies into our teaching and research.

We need more investment in basic research, not just to make 2x4s, but to unlock new uses for trees: materials, chemicals, medicines, and more. These discoveries will support housing, sustainability, and innovation across industries.

Environmental security will gain prominence as resource scarcity impacts global stability. While cybersecurity dominates headlines today, imagine a world without water, trees, or biodiversity. Environmental security is a lens we must look through more purposefully.

The value of higher education is under scrutiny. We must deliver. Nature is resilient and so are people. Education fuels that resilience. It remains paramount to our survival. As Thomas Jefferson said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”

Thank you for supporting our faculty, staff, and students. I hope you’ll connect with Dean van de Gevel and offer your ideas as she leads the college forward. It has been a truly wonderful experience to serve as dean of this great college. I’ll be watching from the trail as Dean van de Gevel leads the college through what lies ahead.

Paul Winistorfer, Ph.D.
Dean, August 2009 – July 2025