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What is Health and Human Development?

Diverse fields of study that share one
common goal: enriching the lives of others.

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Graduates of the TREES (and antecedent HDNRE) dual-title graduate degree program have been trained to work in a variety of academic, non-profit, and private industry sectors.

2024

Lacey Goldberg

Ph.D., Architecture and HDNRE

Staff Landscape Architect, Office of Physical Plant at The Pennsylvania State University

Emily Hayne

Ph.D., Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and TREES

Ruchi Patel

Ph.D., Geography and HDNRE

Director of Environmental & Climate Justice Initiatives, UrbanKind Institute

Timothy Mateer

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Human-Centered Design, Cornell University 

Hannah Whitley

Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Assistant Director of Grants Development and Management
Bridgeport Public Schools 2022

2022

Stephanie Freeman

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Postdoctoral scholar in RPTM at Penn State

Tara Mazurcyzk

Ph.D. in Geography and HDNRE

Biologists and U.S. Environmental Protected Agency

Aubrey Tallon

M.S. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Graduate Research Assistant at Penn State

2021

Erinn Drage

M.S. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

World Commission on Protected Areas Programme Officer to support the implementation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Commission on Protected Areas WCPA Mandate 2021-2025

Abigail Jamison

M.S. Forest Resources and HDNRE

Forest Planning Program Specialist with PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry

2020

Andrea Ferich

Masters Forest Resources and HDNRE

Forestry Consultant | Independent Contractor | Pennsylvania and New York 

William Rice

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management & Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment (dual-title)

Assistant Professor of Outdoor Recreation and Wildland Management in the Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Program and Department of Society and Conservation at the University of Montana.

Joel Mueller

Ph.D., Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Research Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

Lauren Mullenbach

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management & Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment (dual-title)

Assistant Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma

Ryan Naylor

M.S. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Doctoral Student in RPTM at Penn State University

Kalaia Tripeaux

2020 M.S. Forest Resources and HDNRE

TreeVitalize’s Tree Equity Specialist with The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

2019

Sarah Eissler

Ph.D., Rural Social and HDNRE

Independent Consultant

Jennifer Haney

Ph.D. Anthropology and HDNRE

Senior Researcher in Archeology at the University of Oklahoma

Daniel Kunches

Ph.D. Geography and HDNRE

Fire Recovery Coordinator with Feather River Land Trust

Rui Li

M.S. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Marketing Analyst at Red Cube Production Inc.

2018

Lauren Ferguson

Ph.D., Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire

Lucy Harbor

M.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Associate at RRC Associates

Amelia Romo

M.S. Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Insectary Research Technologist at Pennsylvania State University

Grace Wildermuth

M.S. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Graduate Research Assistant at Penn State University

2017

Austin Barrett

Ph.D.,  Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Evaluation Manager for National Recreation and Park Association

Elyzabeth Engle

Ph.D., Rural Social and HDNRE

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at McDaniel College

Vasiliy Lakoba

M.S. Landscape Architecture and HDNRE

Director of Research at the American Chestnut Foundation

Stephen Mainzer

Ph.D. Landscape Architecture and HDNRE

Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at Penn State University

Forrest Schwartz

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Faculty Lecturer in Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire

Brian Wolyniak

Ph.D. Forestry Resources and HDNRE

Extension Educator, Renewable Natural Resources/Urban Forestry at Penn State University

2016

John Eshleman

2016 Ph.D., Rural Social and HDNRE

Freelance Researcher and Grant Developer

Michael Ferguson

Ph.D., Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire

Richard Gage

Ph.D., Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Davis and Elkins College, West Virginia

Matthew McKinney

Ph.D., Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Entrepreneurship Program Manager & Educator at Penn State University

Jennifer Newton

Ph.D., Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Social Scientist for the National Park Service

Eric Larson

2016 Ph.D., Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Co-Owner of PEER Social Science

2013

Brandon Green

Ph.D., Rural Social and HDNRE

Principal Researcher at JG Research and Evaluation

Kathleen Wood

M.S. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Former Executive Director of Dig In

2012

Krishna Roka

Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Assistant Professor of Sociology at Winona State University

Cynthia Longmire

Ph.D., Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Senior Social Scientist at DJ Case & Associates

2011

Elizabeth Covelli Metcalf

Ph.D. Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management and HDNRE

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs; Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management at the University of Montana

Cara Raboanarielina

Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Strategic Learning Lead - RFSA Maharo at Catholic Relief Services

Daniel Lowenstein

M.S. Forestry Resources and HDNRE

Owner of Red Hawk Premium Peppers

2010

Jason Gordon

2010 Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Assistant Extension Professor. College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University

Joshua Gruver

Ph.D. Forest Resources and HDNRE

Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at Ball State University

Alexander Metcalf

Ph.D. Forestry Resources and HDNRE

Associate Professor of Human Dimensions at the University of Montana

Jason Weigle

Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Impact Collaborative Coordinator at Extension Foundation

Bradley Woods

Ph.D. Rural Sociology and HDNRE

Associate Vice President for research compliance at Kansas State University