Hilary Morris, Graduate Student in Natural Resources, Policy and Administration
When it comes to making an impact, graduate student Hilary Morris is no stranger. That became apparent recently when it was announced that she won First Place and $500 in the Forest Science and Technology Board Student Presentation Competition at the 2013 Society of American Foresters (SAF) National Convention in Charleston, SC, which had an attendance of over 1500.
Hilary is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources, with an emphasis on Policy and Administration. She is defending her thesis in January and will be graduating in May 2014. Her research focuses on Southeast forestry professionals’ attitudes toward climate change, and the results of her research could have important implications for future outreach efforts.
Her advisor, Mark Megalos, is Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. “Hil is something of a superstar here. She has conducted her research while simultaneously holding an intern position with the SALCC,” Dr. Megalos remarked. “She published two extension factsheets in her first year here and has a commentary currently out for review.”
While pursuing her Master’s degree, Hilary worked as a graduate research assistant for NCSU Forestry Extension with the Pine Integrated Network: Education, Mitigation, and Adaptation Program (PINEMAP), and as a Pathways Intern for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SALCC). The Pathways Internship Program provides students the opportunity to stay in school, while getting paid and working in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The impacts that Hilary has already made to these organizations and the university are immense, and we look forward to following the contributions we know she will continue to make to her profession.