12/03/2021
Dean Solomon
The Center for Private Forests at Penn State is deeply saddened to share the sudden and tragic loss of our co-founder and Council Chair Dr. Jim Finley, Ibberson Chair and Professor Emeritus of Private Forest Management and Human Dimensions and Natural Resources, on October 2, 2021. Jim's decades of work informed our understanding of forests, private forest landowners, and all the people who care for the woods, have served as the foundation for the Center’s work since its inception in 2011, and guide its vision for the future.
Jim began his Penn State career, and involvement in forestry, as an undergraduate in 1965. In 1970, he completed his BS in Forest Science and left Penn State to join the USDA Forest Service Northern Area Research Station in Broomall, PA. In 1975, Jim completed an MS degree in Forest Resources at Penn State and joined its Cooperative Extension Service as an area Extension educator working out of Dushore, PA. In 1981, Jim joined the School of Forest Resources faculty at University Park. There his work focused on advancing research and Extension education programs on sustainable forest resource management, especially on private forests. In 1991, he completed his Ph.D. in Extension Education at Penn State.
In 2003, Jim was elected a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters, a high honor within the professional organization he joined in 1970 and actively participated in throughout his tenure. Jim was also a Pinchot Institute for Conservation senior research fellow. He co-chaired the US Forest Service’s National Roundtable on Sustainable Forestry and served, most recently, on the boards of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Foundation for Sustainable Forestry, the Policy Council for WeConservePA, the education committee for the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Eden Hill Conservancy, and many others. During his tenure at Penn State, he shared his expertise with numerous organizations and groups, including state, regional, and federal agencies, non-profits, and others focused on serving forests and people around the world, often garnering awards and recognitions for his effort—far too numerous to list.
In 2011, with colleagues from the newly-created Department of Ecosystem Science and Management and others across the University, Jim established the Center for Private Forests at Penn State. This Center continues his pioneering work on private forestlands and landowners, exploring innovative ways to provide landowners with the inspiration, skills, and advice needed for effective stewardship. Despite officially retiring in 2017, Jim continued to work tirelessly to foster the Center’s development and growth. He served as the Center’s Council Chair, continued to work on applied research projects, and wrote even more material on what it meant to be a steward of the woods. With what little “free” time he had, Jim could be found in his woodshop—often turning his famous bowls and, not surprisingly, teaching others how to do the same; volunteering at the faith-based Krislund Camp in Madisonburg, PA; and enjoying and teaching about the woods with family and friends.
Submitted by:
Allyson Muth
Penn State University
