Faculty

The online Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry relies on the expertise of many different Oregon State faculty members who teach elective courses that add depth and breadth to your academic experience.

As part of your program, you can take Ecampus classes that are taught by faculty in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences; College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences; and many other disciplines. They will prepare you to handle a broad range of urban forest management issues.

Paul D. Ries, Ed.D., Director and Senior Instructor

Dr. Paul Ries has more than 35 years of urban forestry experience at the local, state, national, international, nonprofit, and academic levels. He has contributed to numerous innovative urban forestry education initiatives, including the Community Tree Management Institute, the Municipal Forestry Institute, Tree Board University, and the Green Communities Leadership Institute. At Oregon State University, he has developed eight urban forestry courses and advised more than 100 graduate students.

Paul holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Natural Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is a past recipient of the OSU Vice Provost’s Award for Excellence in Innovation – Online Credit Teaching. An ISA Certified Arborist since 1988, he has served on the International Society of Arboriculture Board of Directors, including a term as president in 2017–18.

Jennifer Killian, Assistant Professor

Jennifer Killian is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Urban Forestry at Oregon State University with over 16 years of experience across municipal, nonprofit, and state forestry sectors. Her interest in urban forestry began in Wisconsin while working on the state’s Emerald Ash Borer team, which confirmed the first detection of the invasive beetle in 2008.

She holds a master’s degree from Oregon State University, where she focused on long-term strategic urban forestry using the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois as a case study. A 2013 OSU alum, Jennifer is an ISA Certified Arborist, a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, and certified in Wildfire Risk Reduction. She is passionate about helping others understand and appreciate urban trees through education and mentorship.

Sarah C. Low, Assistant Professor

Sarah Low is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Urban and Community Forestry at Oregon State University with more than 20 years of experience in urban ecology and forestry. Her work spans federal and local government, nonprofits, and the private sector, all centered on healthy urban ecosystems.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fish and Wildlife Conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a focus on Watershed Science and Management. Sarah is an ISA Certified Arborist, helped establish the Philadelphia Urban Field Station with the USDA Forest Service, and later founded the Tacoma Tree Foundation. Her work combines research, planning, and education to support resilient urban landscapes.