Welcome from the Interim Director

Tom Hinckley

On July 1, the College of Forest Resources became the School of Forest Resources (SFR) within the University of Washington’s new College of the Environment (CoEnv). SFR joins the School of Marine Affairs, the Departments of Atmospheric Sciences and Earth and Space Sciences, as well as the Program on the Environment, the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean and the Program on Climate Change in this bold initiative. We anticipate that the Schools of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and Oceanography will join CoEnv beginning Winter 2010.

The change from the College of Forest Resources to the School of Forest Resources is a major event for the UW.  A College with a 102-year history is now a founding unit within a new UW college.  CoEnv, as it develops, will become an unparalleled hub of environmental scholarship and innovation and will strengthen and invigorate collaboration with colleagues across the UW engaged in exploration and discovery of the earth’s natural and managed environments. In the words of CoEnv’s Vision and Governance Committee Report, “Few universities … have taken the step of collecting such strong and diverse academic and research units into a single institutional structure.” 

A proud alum of the College of Forest Resources (PhD 1971), and a member of the faculty for 30 years, I, like all of you, have special memories of CFR—learning silviculture from the late Professor Dave Scott, helping facilitate, as Director of the Center for Urban Horticulture, the renewal of UW Botanic Gardens’ Merrill Hall after the tragic 2001 firebombing; and, as the David R.M. Scott Professor, widening UW involvement in teaching and discovery supporting environmental sustainability in China and developing partnerships to strengthen the UW’s unique role as a resource for tribal forestry and natural resource education. 

The common thread throughout all of these experiences has been my faith in the College’s, and now the School’s, ability to renew and transform itself to meet emerging challenges, to remain flexible and responsive to changes in our disciplines and professions and to venture into bold research initiatives. I am humbled by the awards and accomplishments of alums, faculty, staff and students reported in this newsletter. (And, I am embarrassed to say that I do not have the recognition skills of even a crow—read the NPR story linked in “In the Media” and take the test yourself!).

Your support and collective wisdom and experience will help us carry on our illustrious tradition and will ensure our continued contributions to CoEnv, the UW and our broader community.  Please contact us with comments, questions and ideas for how you can get more involved.  We hope to see you at our November 2009 Forest Resources Alumni annual event.  See the letter from Forest Resources Alumni Association President Tom Hanson in this newsletter for more information on this opportunity for engagement.

Best,

Tom Hinckley