Leila Pinchot has been the TACF Regional Science Coordinator for two years (May 2006) and has recently decided to pursue a PhD program at University of Tennessee, working with Dr. Scott Schlarbaum and Dr. Stacy Clark on a project that will include chestnut silviculture. Leila will make the shift from Yale to Knoxville in mid July.

Kendra Gurney, recent graduate of University of Vermont-MS in Natural Resources with a forestry concentration-will be joining our staff in mid-May for a smooth transition with Leila in the New England Science Coordinator position.

Kendra's research was on American chestnut restoration, working with Dr. Paul Schaberg of the USDAFS field station in Burlington, VT. Kendra was also instrumental in the formation of the NH/VT-15th state chapter of TACF. Kendra grew up on the NH seacoast and received her BS in Environmental Conservation Science with a self-designed minor in plant and forest health.

While we will miss Leila terribly, we whole-heartedly welcome Kendra to the New England Regional Science Coordinator position, and look forward to dong all sort of wonderful work with Kendra, restoring the chestnut, over the coming years.

Kendra Gurney hugging an American chestnut tree - Photo taken by Leila Pinchot

Leila Pinchot planting pitch pine at Greeley Labs. Leila will be leaving the position at TACF mid-summer and moving to Tennessee to pursue her PhD - Photo taken by Star Childs