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SPEA Professor Honored by State for Urban Forestry Course

Bloomington, IN--SPEA professor Burney Fischer has received an award for his Urban Forest Management Course by the Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) Program; and the Indiana Urban Forest Council, Inc. (IUFC).

The work of seven individuals, corporations, and municipalities who have made a significant contribution to urban forestry in Indiana for 2007 were honored Oct. 10 at the annual urban forestry conference at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.

Professor Fischer's teaching, service, and research focuses on the practice of forestry and urban forestry, particularly the Central Hardwoods Region of the U.S. He also has interests in forest resources policy including state government management.

“Burney’s experiences in urban and community forestry policy and practice provide a strong base of knowledge and a valuable teaching resource that benefits our students,” said SPEA Interim Dean C. Kurt Zorn. “And the work he has done in the state to promote urban forestry has improved the quality of life of Hoosiers.” 
 
Nominations were submitted by the Indiana Urban Forest community, and then voted upon by a panel of judges including Louks; Leigh Bangs, Carmel Tree Commission; David Gorden, landscape architect for Mark Holeman, Inc.; Lee Huss, Bloomington City Forester; Ashley Mulis, IUFC executive director; Anne Maschmeyer, beautification manager, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.; and Katie Booth, horticulturist, Indianapolis Museum of Art.

More than 100 persons from across the state attended the conference, which featured Dr. Kathleen Wolf of the University of Washington and Rupert Boneham of Survivor TV fame.

The CUF program assists municipalities and non-profits with care of trees on public property. The IUFC is the umbrella non-profit organization for the Indiana urban forest community and sponsors quarterly educational seminars on a variety of urban forestry topics.

The following awards were presented for outstanding work in the seven following categories.

Business, U.S. Steel Gary Works and Midwest Plant in Northwest Indiana; Civic Organization Alliance of Crown Hill Neighbors, Indianapolis; Government Entity, Indiana University SPEA Bloomington Urban Forest Management Course; Project, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne Native Trees of Indiana River Walk; Tree Board, Delphi Forestry Commission; Indiana Community Tree Steward, John Montgomery of Indianapolis; and Outstanding Individual of the Year, Dr. Jerry Riffle, Syracuse City Forester.