Forestry alum (’14) works to conserve more than 250,000 acres of forest in East Tennessee

When did you graduate from UTIA, and what was your degree?

I graduated in spring of 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Resource Management.

What is your current role, and can you describe your typical day in the life?

Following graduation, I started with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as a forester at North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. After five years there, I received a promotion and transferred to Catoosa Wildlife Management Area where I have been since 2019. Since then, I have received another promotion in which I now supervise the forestry work units at both WMAs and ultimately forest operations on wildlife management areas for the eastern half of the state. In addition to that, I help to coordinate and oversee road maintenance on Catoosa and North Cumberland.

One of my favorite aspects of my job is that there is no typical day. My current role is filled with more administrative duties such as meetings and site visits, but I still make time to help lay out timber sales, conduct forest inventory and prescribed burns, as well as running the road grader and dozer on road projects.

What brought you to UTIA, and why did you choose your field of study?

I started off my college path at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. I was a biology major with an environmental science minor. I spoke with my advisor (who coincidentally did wildlife management work in the Serengeti) about my passion for the outdoors and wanting to do something forestry related. I concluded that Wake Forest University just wasn’t the right fit for my future, so I looked to transfer. Between academics and the opportunity to be part of the track and field team, UT Knoxville was a clear choice.

How did your time at UTIA impact your life and career?

UTIA has opened doors for me that I would not have had otherwise. The UT network is so large, it has been extremely easy to make professional connections. Many of the people I work with have degrees from UT Knoxville so it truly feels like extended family, everyone has a story about campus, professors, and Knoxville.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

In my personal life, my wife and two daughters. They are the ones that make the stress and grind of work all worth it. Professionally, having the opportunity to be in my current role with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). I directly influence forest management on the state’s two largest wildlife management areas with a forest management footprint of nearly 60,000 acres.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

While you are in school start finding internships and opportunities that are applicable to you career interests. It is hard to know exactly what you want to early in your schooling but get exposure to everything. You never know what will spark your interest. Lastly, don’t be afraid of trying new things, asking questions, and putting in the time to perfect your craft. Experience doesn’t happen overnight so seek council of those that have been doing it for years and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is a fun fact about yourself?

My wife and I have a small farm that takes up most of our free time. Our girls love spending time in the barn with me. Whether it be feeding the cows or fixing the fencing, they are always up for a project. We work to blend forest management, wildlife management and agriculture on our property to develop the land into something that we can proudly pass on to our daughters. On the weekends, we like to take our girls camping and enjoying the outdoors.