It’s my pleasure to introduce myself to all the friends and alumni of the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR). I am Tim Haab and I have the honor of serving as the Interim Director of SENR while the school ramps up a search for their next permanent Director. I am an environmental economist by training and have been a faculty member and department chair in the department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences for 23 years.
When Dean Kress approached me with the opportunity to support SENR during the leadership transition, I eagerly accepted the role of interim Director. During my time in AEDE there were strong working relationships between AEDE and SENR and I had the opportunity to see SENR from the outside. My view of SENR has always been positive and now that I have been in the position of Director for almost two weeks, I’m happy to confirm that positive view from the inside. The scope and impact of SENR is truly impressive. From Lake Erie to southern Ohio, from the production agriculture regions of Ohio to Appalachia, from rural to urban communities and everything in between, from forested lands to broad watersheds, from national to worldwide impact, SENR’s footprint is large and growing.
It is a tribute to the dedicated faculty, staff, students, and previous directors Dr. Jeff Sharp, and Dr. Eric Toman, that SENR has grown from a scrappy, entrepreneurial unit (as a recent external review referred to SENR) to the nucleus of environmental and natural resource teaching, research, and extension in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and The Ohio State University. That growth doesn’t come without challenges. Over the coming year we will be setting the groundwork and vision for a SENR of the future that is structured to solve the grand challenges that we all face. These are not just environmental challenges, but societal challenges, and I believe that there are few universities in the world that match the resources, diversity of thought, passion, and potential that SENR, CFAES, and Ohio State bring to solve these challenges.
I look forward to engaging with all of you over the coming weeks to learn more about your experiences and the legacy and impact of SENR. To that end, we have a few opportunities coming up to engage (or re-engage) with the School, including a seminar presented by William J. Mitsch, PhD, Professor Emeritus, School of Environment and Natural Resources on Aug. 31 and our Environmental Professionals Network breakfast program on Sept. 12. Details for these events are below.
Plan to celebrate Homecoming with SENR! SENR will host on Oct. 6 an Open House at the Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park in partnership with Stone Laboratory, the University’s Island campus on Lake Erie. Join us for light refreshments and remarks by the Wetlands Chair, Dr. Christopher Tonra, and the F.T. Stone Laboratory Associate Director of Academic Programming and Research, Dr. Suzanne Gray. Drs. Gray and Tonra will provide an exciting update on new developments at both locations. Wrap up the afternoon by joining one of our guided tours of the wetlands, including a brief walk on the boardwalks, or by participating in a family friendly aquatic insect scavenger hunt. Registration for Homecoming events is available here.
I hope to see you all soon. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help support you in any way.
Sincerely,
Tim Haab
Professor and Interim Director
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