By Lucia Parra Arce ‘24 MEM
A few months ago, the Yale School of the Environment’s Class of 2024 celebrated the completion of their master’s programs with a heartfelt and moving ceremony. Yet, honoring Yale University’s tradition of referring to graduation as “Commencement,” this event marks merely the beginning of the exciting next chapters for our foresters.
Some graduates chose to deepen their roots in the vibrant New Haven community for a little longer. Kumba Jammeh ‘24 MFS and Yeim We ‘24 MFS, for instance, decided to put their forest research skills to practice and embraced new opportunities as research assistants at different Yale Forests. Lucia Parra Arce ‘24 MEM has joined The Forest School as a postgraduate associate to expand her project management and communications skills. Adding to the excitement, Michael Culbertson ‘24 MFS and Amaya Sathurusinghe ‘24 MF are embarking on their PhD programs, rejoining YSE with renewed enthusiasm. Culbertson will delve deeper into the complexities of soil carbon with Professor Mark Bradford, while Sathurusinghe will explore spatial distribution patterns of tree species and their site affinities in rainforests with Professor Mark Ashton.
Other graduates are spending their summer immersed in the natural beauty of Yale-Myers Forest, where they’ve joined the Apprentice Forester Program, also affectionately known as ‘Forest Crew.’ Grace Dominic ‘24 MF, Alice Gerow ‘24 MF, and Bernard Nyanzu ‘24 MF are diving deep into hands-on fieldwork as Crew members, gaining invaluable experience in forest management and contributing to essential forest conservation efforts. Looking ahead, Gerow will share her forestry expertise in her native France, and Nyanzu will serve as a postgraduate associate in forest farming, collaborating on the USDA ADAPT grant with Yale Forests and the University of New Hampshire.
Simultaneously, Mary Katherine DeWane ‘24 MF, Austin Pruitt ‘24 MF, and Zane Weinberger ‘24 MF have set their sights on meaningful roles in the private sector. Mary Catherine is making her mark on forest sustainability at the Resource Management Service LLC, Austin is delving into the world of forest carbon at Anew Climate, and Zane is putting his expertise to work as a manager and forester at Connwood Foresters, Inc.
In the realms of government and academia, Jennifer (Jen) Jung ‘24 MF is returning to the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Products Laboratory. Jake Barker ‘24 MF is sharing his knowledge as an extension forester at Oregon State University, while Diana Satkauskas ‘24 MF is embarking on a Pathways forestry trainee position with the U.S. Forest Service. Julia Chen ‘24 MF is contributing as a crew member at the Partnership in Forestry and Rangeland Research in California, Amelia (Melly) Napper ‘24 MF is a forester for the Ruffed Grouse Society associated with the USFS Green Mountain National Forest, and Tristan Irwin ‘24 MF/MA is preparing to make an impact on urban forestry and governance in North Carolina.
Finally, for those drawn to the non-profit sector, the impact of this class is equally profound. Jane Jacoby ‘24 MF/JD is combining her legal expertise with her passion for forests as a summer law clerk at the Southern Environmental Law Center, Brandon Wilson Radcliffe ‘24 MF is focusing on stewardship management plans with an NGO in Maryland, and Hayden Stebbins ‘24 MF is dedicating his efforts to the Southern New England region as a certified forester with the New England Forestry Foundation.
As these graduates embark on their diverse and promising journeys, one thing stands clear: the foresters in the Class of 2024 are not just starting new adventures but growing to be as resilient and nurturing as the forests they love and protect. While, at the same time, they are planting seeds for a brighter, greener future.
