Sterling Degree: Ecology
Current Hometown: Peacham, Vermont
Current Work: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Erin coordinates the USDA Northeast Climate Hub, a regional federal program that helps farmers and land managers deal with climate change. Her passions, and the focus of her work, lay in teamwork and collaborations. She maintains strong relationships with our land grant and other partners, and coordinates projects and activities throughout the Hub. Erin made the recent change in direction to focus on climate change after a career based in fire management.
She is also a co-founder, and coordinator, of the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange serving the fire community to advance the use of relevant fire science to harmonize fire management goals by bringing people together and addressing challenges. Erin was a forest firefighter and fire ecologist for many years before starting a family.
Erin has a Master of Science in Forest Management from the University of Maine and is a PhD student in Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Society at Dartmouth College.
How did Sterling influence your current career path? Sterling had me sold on a career in natural resources since the first week of school. I always knew I loved the outdoors and at Sterling I very quickly learned I could make it my career. My internship in 1997 was with the US Forest Service. 23+ years later and I’m still working for the same agency.
What is your most memorable Bounder/Expedition memory: The night hike of Bounder. We got dropped off somewhere at night and had to find our way back to campus as a Bounder group. Breakfast, when we finally returned, was amazing. I remember this being the first Friday night of college. I’ve been a strong Sterling advocate ever since.
Any words of wisdom for the current Sterling students? Spend more time at the lean-tos! Get to know your Craftsbury community outside of the College. Don’t be afraid to become close with your teachers and their kids.