Humboldt State Universitys College of Natural Resources and Sciences (CNRS) has named Lisa Perry, Education Director of the California Forest Products Commission, to serve as Campus Recruiter and bolster the ranks of ethnically diverse students in natural resource careers.
The appointment of Ms. Perry, a specialist in delivering and administering K-12 natural resource education programs, stems from a partnership formed in April by Humboldt State and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Vallejo, Region 5-California, to increase the number of new students in forestry and other natural resource majors.
As Education Director at the California Forest Products Commission, which was created in 1990 to inform the public about science-based forestry practices and management, Ms. Perry has been responsible for outreach programs to K-12 classrooms that explore natural resource issues. A credentialed teacher, she has spent a great deal of time in the field researching complex forestry and related subjects.
Ms. Perry is an appointed member of the California Instructional Materials Advisory Panel (Science), which has acquainted her with the educational system at the local school, district and state levels.
In that capacity, she launched a Career and University Outreach Program to help arrest the declining enrollments in natural resource programs and the consequent shortage of qualified employees in allied professions.
Dr. James H. Howard, Dean of the CNRS, said Ms. Perrys recruitment drive will increase young peoples awareness of natural resource career opportunities and also address opposing trend lines: a declining number of graduates in the field versus rising job demand for trained professionals.
We are very excited to have someone with Lisa Perrys experience and statewide connections join us in the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, Dr. Howard said. A big part of future growth of many of our academic programs will depend on educating the public about the great opportunities our students have and the rewards of helping to manage and protect California s amazing natural treasures. This position is being jointly funded by our college, HSUs Enrollment Management Office and the U.S. Forest Service. I am certain that all parties will see immediate benefits from the person we have selected.
Readying to take up her new position at the Arcata campus on August 15, Ms. Perry said, I look forward to recruiting the best and the brightest students to one of the finest natural resources and sciences programs in the state. I hope to make sure that students everywhere know about the incredible opportunities available in this states natural resource programs. Through an emphasis on outreach and programs that engage industry, agency and academic professionals, we can bring a large and talented pool of students to HSU.