Bios

Dr. Yujuan Chen is an associate professor of urban forestry in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Tennessee State University (TSU). Dr. Chen has a long-standing interest in urban and community forestry. She is a co-author of the 1st global Guidelines on Urban and Peri-urban Forestry, as well as initiated and led the “Healthy Soils for Healthy Communities Initiative” to study the potential of healthy soils in building climate resilience and healthy communities. Prior to joining TSU, Dr. Chen held a range of positions with University of Southern California, TreePeople, Virginia Tech, FAO of the United Nations, and New Jersey State Forestry Services.

Dr. Andrew (Andy) Hirons is a Senior Lecturer in Arboriculture at Myerscough College, UK. He began his career in arboriculture as a climbing arborist and plant health care technician before joining the Arboriculture Department at Myerscough College. Andy teaches modules relating to tree biology, tree establishment and tree management, and his current research activity is motivated by the need to create resilience in urban forests and is focused on using plant traits to inform species selection. Andy is the co-author of numerous scientific publications and textbooks on tree biology and urban tree care.

Dr. Richard (Rich) Hauer is the Director of Urban Forestry at CNUC and an Emeritus Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Rich has conducted research in tree biology, urban forest management, emerald ash borer management, trees and construction, tree risk management, and ice storms. He was honored as the 2023 Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Education and the 2018 L.C. Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research. He has published over 200 publications and presented over 500 talks throughout the world.

Dr. Daniel (Dan) Burcham is an assistant professor of arboriculture and urban forestry at Colorado State. Dan studies the response and durability of urban trees experiencing environmental loads and investigates changes in tree growth and stability associated with various arboricultural practices. For nearly 10 years, he managed an arboriculture research program at the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology, National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore, where he contributed to advancements in the science and practice of tropical arboriculture. Today, Dan works with practitioners and policymakers to improve the management of community forests for the health and safety of nearby populations.

Dr. Jason (Jake) Miesbauer is an Arboriculture Scientist at The Morton Arboretum. His research focuses on tree biomechanics, the architecture of trees, applied arboriculture, predisposition of trees to storm damage and cultural practices that reduce storm damage susceptibility, and growth, maintenance, and function of urban landscape trees. Jake is an ISA Certified Arborist with several years’ experience in the tree care industry as a practicing arborist. He actively engages in outreach to the tree care industry and has presented on topics that include: tree biomechanics, restoration of storm damaged trees, proper tree pruning methods, tree planting and stabilization, and safety in arboriculture.

With a background in commercial arboriculture and urban forest management, Alexander (Alex) Martin is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and holds a Bachelor of Urban Forestry from the University of British Columbia. He serves as Director of Ironwood Urban Forestry Consulting, a research and consulting firm based in Manitoba, Canada which specializes in Indigenous urban forest management and environmental policies. In addition to volunteering with AREA, Alexander is a co-chair of the Canadian TREE Fund and on advisory committees for provincial and federal governments in Canada. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto, examining management opportunities for increasing urban forest equity.

Dr. Sara Barron is the Program Director for both the Bachelor of Urban Forestry and Master of Urban Forestry Leadership programs at the University of British Columbia. Prior to this role, she was a lecturer at the University of Melbourne. Sara’s research interests bridge landscape architecture and urban forestry. Her PhD dissertation explored the design and assessment of future urban forest scenarios in compact communities. She has expertise in large-scale sustainable community planning and climate change research projects and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree.

María runs a small flower farming business with her husband in Hamilton, Canada. Because of her experience as an entrepreneur, she also helps with all the clerical tasks needed to run AREA.