Get to know Linda Nagel

Linda Nagel recently joined CFANS as the new head of the Department of Forest Resources. More than a new beginning, it’s also a homecoming: Dr. Nagel is a former Forest Resources faculty member and director of operations for the Cloquet Forestry Center and the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center. In her career, she’s also served as dean and professor at the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University and was professor and department head at Colorado State University. She began as a faculty member teaching silviculture at Michigan Technological University.

Linda took a few minutes to share about herself, her work, and why our forests are so valuable. 

What exactly is forestry?

To help answer that question, I first want to draw on the definition of silviculture (my sub-discipline), which the Society of American Foresters defines as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.” 

Today, the field of forestry calls for an integration of ecological, social, economic, and cultural values, with an emphasis on ecosystem adaptation so forests can continue providing important ecosystem services into the future, like wood products, water, clean air, biodiversity, recreation, carbon sequestration, etc. It is a complex, integrated field of study and practice that is inherently value-driven and future-focused.

What first drew you to forestry? 

I grew up on a small farm in rural South Dakota, essentially living my childhood outdoors. I was always curious about nature, and that led me to study biology at South Dakota State University. That’s where I discovered, while on my first camping trip to the Black Hills, that there was a profession called “forestry” where you could learn about trees, how they grow, and how to manage them. What a discovery – a paying job to spend time in the forest! It turns out that a love of trees and curiosity for nature pairs well with my passion for teaching and learning, and that led me down a career path in education, research, and outreach.

What is one of the biggest challenges facing our forests today?

There are many uncertainties and challenges facing our forests. Building adaptive capacity and resilience into forest ecosystems is paramount to addressing issues of environmental stress, impacts of insects and disease, and reducing wildfire risk along with balancing the diverse needs and values of society. Forests have the potential to both meet increased demand for wood products and other ecosystem services while being a natural climate solution. This is where the department can play a pivotal role – recruiting and training the next generation of forest stewards and leaders while creating innovative solutions that contribute to the practice of forestry on a local-to-global scale.

Forestry is one of the oldest areas of study at the University of Minnesota. What about the field has changed over time?

So much has changed! Being a forester has always relied on building a broad toolbox that includes technical skills like measuring trees, understanding the ecology of a site, and incorporating the newest technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and AI. Practicing forestry depends on problem solving and creativity in addition to science-based decision-making.

Today, the field also requires interdisciplinary knowledge, systems thinking, strong communication, and durable skills like collaboration, conflict-resolution, open-mindedness to diversity of thought and perspective, and life-long learning. Close partnerships between communities of research and practice will be essential to sustainable forest management into the future – a major strength of the Forest Resources department.

What do you love about forestry?

Besides my love of trees and forests in general, what I love about the field of forestry is that there’s a place for everyone who wants to be involved. There are so many different and interesting career paths one can choose – from working for public agencies, private companies, or NGOs; working in urban or wildland settings; or doing research that drives innovative solutions, just to name a few. 

My own path led me to various leadership roles where I’ve been able to mentor, inspire, and build confidence in others, especially those who aspire to study forest science or be a forester but are unsure how they fit.

Finally, for me, forestry has become as much about working with great people as it is about working in forests – it is an incredible community to be part of. 

Do you have a favorite tree or other forest resource?

It’s hard to pick a favorite tree, but Pinus species are at the top of my list. Pines are resilient and often adapted to unique and challenging environments, beautiful in their architecture, and tell amazing stories through their tree rings. And who can resist the amazing smell of a pine forest?