The College of Natural Resources and Environment welcomes eight new faculty members at the start of the fall semester.

“This is an exciting time for the college as we welcome the largest group of new faculty members we’ve had in many years,” said Paul Winistorfer, dean of the college. “To keep up with our growth in enrollment and advance our research agenda, we are bringing on a talented group of professors who have proven themselves both in the classroom and in highly competitive research environments.”

Jennifer Russell

Jennifer Russell joins the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials as an assistant professor of circular economy. Russell researches sustainability outcomes at the intersection of business strategy, systems thinking and design, ethics, operations, and stakeholder engagement. She holds a doctorate in sustainability from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

J.P. Gannon

J.P. Gannon is the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation’s new collegiate assistant professor of environmental informatics. He researches investigating controls on streamflow generation across scales, as well as using remotely sensed data to examine environmental issues such as sediment pollution in streams and the impacts of wildfires on forest productivity. He received both his master’s and doctorate from Virginia Tech.

One new faculty member joins the Department of Geography while two current faculty members are under new appointments.

Craig Ramseyer

Craig Ramseyer joins the Department of Geography as assistant professor of meteorology and climatology. His research has recently focused on understanding climate change impacts on the hydroclimate in northeastern Puerto Rico. He has also studied climate change impacts of severe weather events, Greenland ice melt, and meteorological impacts on football player mortality. Ramseyer received a doctorate in geography from the University of Georgia.

Anamaria Bukvic

Anamaria Bukvic, formerly a research assistant professor in the department, is newly appointed as assistant professor of human geography. Her teaching and research focuses on human dimensions of climate change impacts, adaptation, and resilience in coastal communities. She studies population displacement driven by coastal flooding and ways that relocation can serve as a viable adaptation strategy to sea-level rise. Bukvic holds a doctorate in in planning, governance, and globalization from Virginia Tech.

Santosh Rijal

Santosh Rijal, who has served as a visiting faculty member in the department, is now a collegiate assistant professor specializing in geographic information science. He helps prepare students to enter the geospatial industry and applies remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial analysis to address environmental problems. Rijal received a doctorate in environmental resources and policy from Southern Illinois University.

Three faculty members are joining the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation.

Francesco Ferretti

Francesco Ferretti, assistant professor of fish conservation, researches patterns and ecosystem consequences of fishing in the oceans with a special focus on sharks. His computational and statistical analysis has been influential in promoting legislation aimed at protecting endangered oceanic species and managing healthy ecosystems. Ferretti received a doctorate in quantitative marine ecology from Dalhousie University.

Kevin Hamed

Kevin Hamed brings a strong commitment to experiential learning to his role as collegiate assistant professor of wildlife conservation. His research focuses on Appalachian salamanders, small mammals, and minnows, with an emphasis on providing data-driven foundations for both conservation biologists and policymakers. In his additional role as biological collection curator, Hamed will look to grow the department’s collection while enhancing outreach opportunities. He received a doctorate in natural resources from the University of Tennessee.

Holly Kindsvater

Holly Kindsvater, assistant professor of fish conservation, centers her research on fish ecology and evolution, focusing on how differences in behavior, growth, and reproductive biology can inform biodiversity conservation efforts. She uses statistical data analysis and mathematical models to ask crucial questions about the impact of human activities, including commercial fishing and climate change. Kindsvater holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Yale University.

— Written by David Fleming

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