College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

ARIEL COOPER
Assistant to the Chair & Department

Ariel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Society and Environment from the University of California, Berkeley. After working in the private sector for a number of years, Ariel was looking for a way to move into more meaningful and impactful employment. Ariel has a strong background in administrative support, event coordination, data management, and team leadership, and has already made a very positive impact on the program with her contagious optimism, upbeat personality, and strong work ethic.

INGRID AGUAYO FUENTEALBA
Undergraduate Adademic Advisor

Dr. Ingrid Aguayo Fuentealba is a forest engineer born and raised in Concepción, Chile. After obtaining her Master’s in Forest Science from Universidad de Concepción, she pursued a Ph.D. in Forestry at the University of Toronto in Canada. Ingrid’s forest entomology expertise focuses on insect behavior and chemical ecology. Despite her shift from insects and forests to community work and humans, Dr. Aguayo Fuentealba’s dedication to her profession remains unwavering. Ingrid is excited to continue being involved in education in her role as academic advisor, specifically forestry.

SHIVAN GC
Assistant Professor, Forest Economics and Environmental Policy

Though not new to the department, Dr. Shivan Gc is a new faculty member in the area of Forest Economics and Environmental Policy. Her research lies at the intersection of environmental policy, landowner behavior, and natural resource economics, with the goal of informing sustainable forest management. She investigates forest landowners’ management decisions, the implications of forestry taxation, and the role of biomass and bioenergy in forest-based economies. Her work also explores supply chain dynamics in the forest products industry and conducts economic contribution and impact analyses to support evidence-based forest policy and investment.

CHAD PAPA
Director, Forest Carbon & Climate Program

Also not new to the department, Chad Papa is the new director of the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP). Dr. Papa brings wealth of knowledge related to forest ecology, carbon accounting, harvested wood products, and science-based education and communication to the FCCP. His research focuses on the role of forest management and policy in support of greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals using a variety of ecosystem models and mixed-methods research. His work is meant to better inform forest management practices, stewardship, and policy and to help quantify the contributions of climate-smart forestry to both societal and ecological goals.

ANNIE SMITH
Academic Program Coordinator

Annie is no stranger to the forestry department, but is now officially a permanent member of the support staff team in the role of Academic Program Coordinator. In this role, she coordinates forestry online programs in general, including the Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy, and Management and online professional education. Annie received her Bachelor of Science in Family & Community Services from Michigan State University. She has been instrumental in supporting the Hybrid Online MS Program and has contributed greatly to its early success.