1970
Dennis Parent writes: “Started running my own forestry consulting business on July 1, 2014. On July 1, 2022, I sold the business to a larger, regional consulting firm, Inland Forest Management, Inc. There was one main condition of the sale: that I would mentor some of the younger, newer foresters. I don’t know who was more excited about that, the purchaser or me, the seller. My goal now, in addition to more forestry consulting and perhaps writing a book (about some aspect of forestry, of course), is to empty my brain into some younger foresters as part of my legacy. I have 50 years of experience going back to times that most of the foresters under 40 years old do not remember. It should be a very satisfying ending to my forestry career. One of these days I will get back to ESF for a visit.”
1975
Frank G. Clemmensen writes: “After 20 years as a design-build landscape company owner, followed by nearly another 20 years as a project manager for a builder in Raleigh, I have now taken up wildlife photography in retirement. After attending many photography classes and workshops to advance my skills, I am privileged to have had images published in the Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and several trade publications. This image was taken in August 2022 at my second personal photography exhibit at the Bradford Art Gallery on Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Feel free to make contact via my website at fgcphotos.com.”
Edward Olley writes: “Recently retired as Director of Architecture and Founder of GYMO Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, DPC in Watertown, NY. But I’m still enjoying architectural design consulting. Architecture is the lifelong process of becoming an architect.”
1979
Barry LeClair writes: “High School teacher since 2009 of Sciences, Computer Science, and the Humanities for Pinellas County (Florida) Public Schools Educational Alternative Services’ Graduation Enhancement Program assisting students to improve their GPA’s and recover credits so they can graduate on time and earn their high school Diploma since 2017. ISA Certified Arborist FL-5327A since 2005.”
1983
Mark Geuther writes: “Earned my Masters in Leadership in December 2021. Promoted to Associate Director of Facilities Project Management at the University of New Hampshire in August 2021 and subsequently to Director in October 2022. Any WPE class of 1983 planning on attending our 40th Reunion?”
Eileen M. Travis has combined her love of needlework and landscape architecture in the creation of a large scale crocheted piece that has been accepted into its second outdoor art exhibit. Last summer, it was accepted into Art in the Orchard, in Easthampton, MA, and this summer, it was located at the historic Windmill in Jamestown, RI, through the end of October. The piece is called ‘The Poppy Field.’ Read full article in The Jamestown Press.
1984
Matthew Kleabonas writes: “After 25 years, two pandemics, and countless outbreaks, I am finally getting ready to retire from Wadsworth Center Virology.”
1985
Craig Miller writes “On June 18, I was elected to serve as bishop of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, beginning September 1, 2022. The Upper Susquehanna Synod consists of 116 congregations in ten counties of north-central Pennsylvania.”
1986
After more than 23 years, Donna K. Rogler retired from the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry in December. In recognition of her accomplishments in environmental education and forestry, Donna has recently received several awards. The North American Association for Environmental Education honored her with the Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Individual at their conference in Tucson. Donna has been working with the National FFA Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) since 2003, serving as the local arrangements coordinator for the Forestry CDE practicum and as a member of the National FFA Forestry CDE Committee. FFA recognized her service at the annual convention with a VIP Citation. In Indiana, Donna was honored by the Environmental Education Association of Indiana with the Sam Carman-Warren Gartner Cornerstone Award for contributions to Environmental Education in the state. The Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners and Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation also honored her for her contributions to forestry in Indiana.
Shawn Wright writes: “Still employed as a Horticulture Extension Specialist with the University of Kentucky and am based in Appalachia. We had a major flood in 2021 that did significant damage to the research center and had just about recovered when we were hit with a record-setting flood in late July of 2022 that destroyed my fields, supplies and equipment. Only my greenhouse and orchard survived, so I will be working on rebuilding the program for quite a few years. It was much worse for many others in the region though, so I can’t complain.”
1989
In October of 2021, Bill A. Janowsky reached his 30th anniversary working in federal service. The past 22 years has been spent working with the U.S. Forest Service, and this past year he was named the Region 2 – Rocky Mountain Region Assistant Fisheries Program Leader. He is also the Fish and Aquatics Program Leader for the Agency. Reaching his career goal has allowed for him to concentrate on preserving and restoring native cutthroat trout populations across the Rocky Mountains.
1990
Kelly (Weaver) Dziekan retired after 25 years as marketing research analyst with Texas Parks and Wildlife in Austin, Texas. Kelly is now enjoying a slower pace doing research and consulting with Southwick Associates.
1992
Pauline Burnes writes: “I have recently been selected to serve as Trail Town Coordinator with the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway. In this position I will be working with Parks and Trails New York, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Letchworth Gateway Villages, and 10 Trail Towns along the Genesee Valley Greenway Corridor. In addition, I serve as Vice President/Secretary with IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails, Inc., which is progressing with a Master Plan for the West Almond Trails along with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation West Almond Forestry Office, National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, and staff and students from Alfred University’s Environmental Studies programs. Check out the Facebook page for Impact Friends Group and scroll down to August for pictures of our recently completed Trail 4 improvement project.”
Bernadette Connors writes: “I am currently serving as the Chair of the Science Department at Dominican University of New York, full professor of biology research focusing on microbiomes of sediments and surface waters in Hudson Valley. I also advocate for undergraduate research and scholarship; funded through the National Science Foundation.”
1994
Landis Hudson writes: “2022 was an exciting year in my work with Maine Rivers. We finished a seven-year x six-dam project to restore a run of native migratory fishes and celebrated an amazing count of 837,000 returns! Life meanwhile still finds me swimming, skiing, or running and visiting family in Cooperstown.”
1998
Dan Kelting, vice president for research and executive director of the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College, has been named the college’s interim president.
2003
Todd LaQuay writes: “This year I received a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) award at the ESRI International Users Conference 2022. Our GIS department of 2 people was given this honor for the work we did during the pandemic. Our small group of SAG award winners represented just 1/10th of 1% of the ESRI GIS Users world-wide. It was a great honor.”
2004
Emily (“Rese”) Cloyd writes: “In June of 2022 I joined the Washington, DC Department of Energy and Environment as Associate Director, Fisheries and Wildlife Division. By the end of my first day, I’d discovered two other ESF alumni among my colleagues: Christopher Adriance ‘09 and Keren O’Brien Murphy ‘02!”
Damien Kuiper was part of the team that received the 2022 Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society for the development of the antiviral Lagevrio (molnupiravir), which was granted emergency use authorization by the FDA against COVID-19.
Laura Nelson writes: “After 15 years of environmental and sustainability consulting, I have moved over to standard-setting, and accepted the role of Associate Director, Market Engagement for the IFRS Foundation. I support the work of the International Sustainability Standards Board to deliver a comprehensive global baseline of sustainability-related disclosure standards.”
2005
Lisa Maher writes: “I am currently a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Syracuse, New York, and Southwest Florida. I make sure all of my clients get a lesson on the trees they are purchasing with their home and we always talk about the soils and foundation!”
2006
Kristine Bialy-Viau writes: “I graduated from law school in May, 2021 and was sworn into the NYS Bar on June 13, 2022. I am currently employed with Hiscock Legal Aid Society, where I work on appeal cases.”
2007
Syracuse University announced that Khris Dodson is one of the new directors of water resiliency initiatives at the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions – Environmental Finance Center (CSCS-EFC). Khris previously served as an associate director at CSCS-EFC, managing a team of professionals to assist rural communities and other underserved populations on water and wastewater infrastructure challenges, and connecting the Syracuse University EFC with the national EFC network. “As our team continues to grow, we are excited to bring on new talent and find new ways to support our local leaders,” he says. “We are committed to supporting every community in EPA Region 2 with technical assistance and continuing to work with our many national and statewide partners. We recently added new staff with cultural competency to support Native Nations, we’re planning to hire more staff to meet new demand for our services especially on climate resiliency, and we’re evaluating new ways to continue integrating our work with other institutes and academic centers across Syracuse University and at ESF, like the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.”
2008
Mark Woodford was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at SUNY Upstate Medical University in March 2022. He resides in Baldwinsville with his wife and three children and is in the process of re-connecting with his ESF roots.
Syracuse University announced that Melissa Young is one of the new directors of water resiliency initiatives at the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions – Environmental Finance Center (CSCS-EFC). Melissa previously served as an assistant director at CSCS-EFC, where she has worked since 2008. In that role, Young led public engagement, outreach and educational programs, resource development, and technical assistance related to sustainable materials management, including waste reduction, reuse and recycling. In 2010, she spearheaded development and launch of the center’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Stewardship program, which to date has engaged hundreds of college students and thousands of K-12 students and teachers across New York, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, educating them about waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting and empowering them to conduct local outreach projects. In 2015, Young helped develop the first NYS Organics Summit and helped NYSAR3 receive an Environmental Champion Award from the USEPA for her work co-leading the Re-Clothe NY Campaign. “We are at a critical turning point right now in EPA Region 2,” she says. “Local leaders and communities are realizing the need and value of transitioning their materials management operations into a system that’s based on waste prevention, resource conservation, the highest and best use of materials, and circular economics, all of which help to benefit the social, environmental, and economic well-being of their local communities. I’m proud of the work our team has done in leading sustainable materials management initiatives and I look forward to what we can accomplish as we continue expanding our services in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, New Jersey and here in New York State.”
2010
Michael Oot writes: “I was able to participate in an amazing experience this past November. My company, Fisher Associates, sponsored a trek via GivePower to Chontaduro, Colombia to help install solar panels to supply power to the local school. Just outside of Cali, the project gave light to the school, bathroom and cooking area, and produced enough power for a refrigerator, freezer, smart tv, as well as charge phones and tablets. They previously didn’t have these luxuries, and would work by candlelight when it got dark. As an Environmental Scientist and Certified Arborist for Fisher Associates, I perform a variety of functions in support of our engineering projects, including wetland delineations, tree surveys, habitat ecological assessments, and surveys. I am thankful to my ESF schooling that prepared me for my personal and professional endeavors. Attached is a photo with my ESF flag in front of the power station, one with our group shot with the school children, and one picture of the Rio Pance just outside of Cali.”
2015
Ross Mazur writes: “After finishing a graduate degree, I spent four years working in the composting industry. I now work for a startup tech company and am enjoying life in Colorado.”
2016
Dr. Xiaoliang Yang and colleagues from the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI), based in Melbourne, Australia, at the UNFCCC COP27 meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Dr. Yang writes: “A week at COP27 representing GCCSI, engaging discussions on the way to move Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) forward globally for the net zero future.”
2021
Lauren Kelly writes: “I saw the Instagram post awhile back to reach out if we have been up to anything cool! I graduated from ESF in December 2021 and since then, I have been working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service New York Field Office as their Outreach Coordinator. It has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about social media and content creation while also getting out in the field with biologists and writing stories about the science. ESF truly provided me with all of the necessary tools I needed to excel in this internship!”
2022
Tom Klein is happy to share that he is starting a new position as a Biological Science Technician at the United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. He will be working hands-on in Wyoming to mitigate the Sylvatic Plague, which is responsible for the decline of the endangered black-footed ferret and prairie dog populations. He is very grateful to be able to work to conserve these iconic species this season!