Faculty Spotlight – Dave Carter
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EmailDave Carter shares his journey with forestry and his advice to future students pursuing a forestry degree.
Dr. Dave Carter is from Downers Grove, IL. He earned his MS from the University of Maine and PhD from the University of Minnesota. He is currently teaching three undergraduate classes: Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture, Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture Laboratory, and Forestry Field Studies.
What experiences in forestry did you have prior to teaching?
My first forestry job was working as a field and lab technician for then-PhD student, Bob Fahey (now the silviculture professor at UConn), in Craig Lorimer’s (silviculture professor) lab at UW-Madison. After graduating, I worked for the USDA Forest Service as a forestry technician in the Dixie National Forest in Escalante, Utah. After this seasonal job ended, Bob Fahey hired me to be his research associate at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. With the Recession in full-swing, jobs were hard to come by, so, I went back to graduate school. I got my MS with silviculturist Bob Seymour at the University of Maine then went on to get my PhD at the University of Minnesota with silviculturists Tony D’Amato and Rob Slesak. Before coming to MSU, I was an associate professor of silviculture and co-director of the Forest Productivity Cooperative at Virginia Tech.
What inspired your interest in teaching in forestry at MSU?
The forests in Michigan are diverse and well-managed and the state is centrally located in the Northern Forest where a network of high-impact silviculturists have been working for decades. The research and operational infrastructure in Michigan and the broader region present a lot of opportunities to positively impact the landscape through changes in management.
What has been one of your best experiences teaching so far?
To me, the best thing an instructor can experience while teaching is seeing a student’s interest in forestry ignite. It was always obvious to me that forestry is the coolest possible career path one could take but seeing that same level of interest come online in a student is a great experience.
What do you want others to know about this program?
MSU has one of the oldest forestry programs in the country and it is a fantastic springboard for students looking to start a career in the best discipline on campus.
Any thoughts or advice for current students?
Take full advantage of your summers. Working toward a degree in forestry opens doors for you to work in all the forested regions in the country and summers offer you a level of flexibility that is unique to this time in your life. If you can, why not try out a job in Alaska or Appalachia or the Rockies? You will be adding to your resume while enjoying a 3-month stint in a totally new environment. When it’s all over, you get to come back to MSU and regale people with stories of the experience.
Likewise, take full advantage of opportunities to indulge some hobby (or three) while you’re on a college campus. Nearly any niche interest has an active group of likeminded folks on campus that you are welcome to join -- ski club, pottery, LARPing, woodworking, whatever. It’ll never be easier to participate in these types of things than while you’re in college.
Engage with professors. We usually have opportunities to gain experience in our labs. It is our job to provide you with greater access to the discipline some way or another. So, knock on our doors!
Classes currently teaching: FOR 406: Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture, FOR 406L: Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture Laboratory, and FOR 420: Forestry Field Studies.
