Thomas Worthley
As Associate Extension Professor, UConn Extension Forester Tom Worthley provides educational programming to woodland owners, organizations and professionals around the state through programs such as the Coverts Project. He also teaches Dendrology and Forest Management classes for UConn undergraduate students. As chairperson of the UConn Forest Committee, he has some responsibility for UConn Forest land and he mentors and supervises students on the UConn Forest Crew. Actively helping facilitate research projects through "Stormwise" and other initiatives he is examining the potential for wood product value recovery from roadside forest management and other small-scale management activities. Working with non-traditional harvesting methods and local utilization scenarios, perhaps our roadside forests and small-area habitat projects might also become “working lands,” generating local jobs and economic activity.
Assistant Extension Professor
Middlesex County Extension Center
1066 Saybrook Road
Haddam, CT 06438
(860) 345-4511
email: thomas.worthley@uconn.edu
Mayra Rodríguez González, Ph.D.
Dr. Mayra Rodríguez González is an Assistant Extension Educator in Urban and Community Forestry. She specializes in participatory research, geospatial analysis, and culturally responsive approaches to environmental challenges. With an interdisciplinary background spanning Urban Ecology, Landscape Ecology, and Socio-ecological Systems research, her work effectively bridges science, policy, and community action to broaden access to natural resources.
In her two years as an Extension Forester at UConn and as the lead of the Urban and Community Forestry Extension Program, Mayra has partnered with over 40 organizations, led tree canopy and climate resilience planning efforts across 12 cities, advised 162 decision-makers, and trained 2,603 practitioners. Furthermore, she has guided 120 landowners and engaged 1,212 community members and 995 youth in various forestry initiatives. Through a dedicated focus on community engagement, conservation education, and co-governance strategies, she strives to cultivate sustainable and climate-resilient urban landscapes throughout Connecticut.
Assistant Extension Educator
* Environmental Justice
* Socio-Ecological Systems
* Urban Ecology
* Urban and Community Forestry
Hartford County Extension Center
Exchange Building - Suite 262
270 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032
(860) 409-9050
Email: mayra.rodriguez_gonzalez@uconn.edu
Robert M. Ricard, Ph.D., CF
Dr. Robert (Bob) Ricard is a Senior Extension Educator with the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. Bob came to the University of Connecticut in 1991 to conduct urban forestry outreach education, teaching, and research, which he continues to do. He also is the Coordinator for the UConn Extension Disaster Education Network (UCONN EDEN) teaching and research disaster science and emergency preparedness and previously served as the College’s Land Use and Water Program Team Leader. He has taught Human Dimensions in Natural Resources for the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and currently teaches a college wide course, Leadership Development in Extension Education.
Bob conducts the Tree Warden School and assists the Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut, Inc., which he formed in 1992. Bob created and conducted the Meskwaka Tree Project for volunteers for 23 years. He is co-author of Greening Connecticut Cities and Towns (2005) with Glenn Dreyer and serves on the state Tree Examining Board. Bob holds a Ph.D. in public policy with two master’s degrees in forest genetics and silviculture. He was elected Fellow of the Society of American Foresters in 2005, was awarded the National Technology Transfer Award in 2015 by that organization, and was awarded the UConn Provost Award for Excellence in Extension Education the same year.
Retired Senior Extension Educator
* Urban and Community Forestry
* Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
Hartford County Extension Center
Exchange Building - Suite 262
270 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06032
(860) 409-9050
Email: robert.ricard@uconn.edu
Robert Fahey, Ph.D.
Dr. Fahey is interested in understanding linkages between the composition, structure, and functioning of forest ecosystems and designing and testing management strategies focused on manipulating these aspects of forests to increase their resilience to a variety of stressors. He works across the spectrum of anthropogenic impacts in forests from urban to rural, and is particularly interested in adapting ecological and silvicultural knowledge to human-dominated landscapes. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut and received his B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University, M.S. in Forest Science from Oregon State University, and Ph.D. in Forest Ecology and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Assistant Professor (Forest Ecology and Management)
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Connecticut
U-4087, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-014
(860) 486-4169
Email: robert.fahey@uconn.edu
Cynnamon Dobbs, Ph.D.
Dr. Cynnamon Dobbs is an ecologist and urban forester whose research centers on socio-ecological systems, particularly in urban environments. Her work explores how urban forests contribute to human well-being and addresses urban challenges through natural solutions. With a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Melbourne, Dr. Dobbs combines quantitative ecological methods with an emerging interest in qualitative approaches to assess ecosystem services and their connection to social variables. She specializes in analyzing landscape patterns through spatial statistics and landscape ecology, utilizing maps to reveal connections between urban ecosystems and human societies.
Dr. Dobbs’s research also bridges the gap between science and policy, focusing on the decision-making processes that shape urban resilience and sustainability. Her work aims to influence policy by providing a deeper understanding of how urban ecosystems can be managed to support equitable, sustainable development. With a strong passion for connecting science to action, Dr. Dobbs brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her research, integrating ecological, social, and policy dimensions. Her contributions aim to shape urban landscapes that not only enhance environmental health but also foster resilient communities.
Gratis Professor (Urban and Community Forestry)
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Connecticut
U-4087, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-014
Email: cynnamon.dobbs@uconn.edu
Amanda Bunce, M.S.
Amanda Bunce is a native New Englander whose passion for the outdoors shapes her diverse career. She holds a B.A. in Studio Art (Central CT State University, 2007) and an M.S. in Natural Resources (UConn, 2017). As a naturalist, artist, lumberjack, and avid hiker, Amanda brings a unique perspective to her work.
Her primary focus is the interaction between wind and trees, for which she meticulously maintains the three Stormwise biomechanics sites in Storrs, Orange, and Torrington. Amanda's research explores how forest management impacts Southern New England's ecology, the social aspects of these decisions, and how smart management can help forests better withstand climate change.
PhD Candidate
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Connecticut
U-4087, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-014
Email: amanda.bunce@uconn.edu
Teresa Verellen
Teresa Verellen holds a Degree in Landscape Planning and Design from the University of Buenos Aires, with prior studies in Landscape and Garden History in Bordeaux. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Science in Urban Forestry at UConn. Her expertise lies in integrating environmental perspectives into urban planning, promoting nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, and biodiversity. Teresa is highly experienced in fostering community participation in projects. She was also involved in the CONEXUS HORIZON2020 project and has worked independently on naturalization projects across various environments.
MS Student
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Connecticut
U-4087, 1376 Storrs Road
Storrs, CT 06269-014
Email: teresa.verellen@uconn.edu