Dahl Selected as Next Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar

September 17, 2020

We’re pleased to announce that Jamie Dahl, doctoral candidate at Colorado State University, will be the next Mollie Beattie Visiting Scholar. Her study will utilize environmental and social justice frames to focus on and prioritize inclusion of minoritized voices in the Society of American Foresters (SAF). 

"I believe that my combination of forestry experience paired with my additional education and expertise in social justice and social sciences truly speak to some of Mollie Beattie’s same passions—as she too combined forestry and philosophy," Dahl said. "Our natural resources are broadly public resources and it is important that all people feel welcomed and have a seat at the table for decisions regarding access, use, management, and conservation."



The study will utilize environmental and social justice frames to focus on and prioritize minoritized voices and to shed light on ways and the level to which all SAF members feel fully included and engaged in both SAF and the broader forestry and natural resources community. Importantly, this research project has an immediate and clear link to forest policy matters. Often people of color, women, and other groups are minoritized in forestry and natural resource professions.

Numerous sources share the concern that natural resources fields must begin to reflect the larger demographic makeup of the U.S. or minoritized groups will continue to miss opportunities to influence and lead natural resources decisions. This study will help us to better understand the overall sense of inclusion from SAF membership and ultimately inform future policy and practice across various natural resources professions. 

"I am excited to better fully understand inclusion within SAF and to look at how that might better inform policy and practice both within and beyond our organization," Dahl said. "I am honored to implement this research under the umbrella of the M[ollie] B[eattie] Visiting Scholar in Forest Policy Program."