Brooks Mendell speaks to an audience at The Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center.
Advancing knowledge among stakeholders is an important component of Auburn University’s outreach mission as a land-grant institution. One of the best ways to accomplish this mission is to host educational programs such as lectures, seminars and workshops for faculty and industry professionals. In 2025, the Auburn College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) proudly expanded its offerings by hosting the inaugural Emmett & ViAnn Thompson Lecture in Forest Economics & Policy at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center on Feb. 27.
This new lecture series was established by the founding dean of the CFWE, Emmett F. Thompson, and his wife, ViAnn. The Thompsons endowed this series to help the college enrich its academic programming. By inviting speakers to this series every year, a plethora of expertise will be showcased across the forest industry.
Emmett F. Thompson and wife, ViAnn, pose for a photo at the Emmett & ViAnn Thompson Lecture in Forest Economics & Policy reception.
“When Vi and I along with our daughter, Meri [Pylant], were discussing the idea of endowing a lecture series in the CFWE, the general area of forest economics seemed a natural fit.” Thompson said. “As a faculty member at Virginia Tech, I taught and conducted research in forest economics and management. At Auburn, I could always more than justify our programs by pointing to the economic importance of forests, forest landowners and the forest products industry in Alabama. We enjoyed particularly strong support from the forest products industry, as represented by the Alabama Forestry Association.”
Alabama’s forest industry is recognized as being among the nation’s largest and most vibrant, with top five rankings in softwood lumber production, pulp and paper production, and forest sector employment concentration according to the Alabama Forestry Commission. With more than 23 million acres of forests in the state, the Thompson lectures will fill a critical role in creating a new avenue for learning about economic trends, operational strategies and other decision-making factors influencing the forest industry.
Pylant similarly echoes her father’s sentiments regarding the importance of the endowed lecture series for practitioners, as well as the broader community.
“We wanted this series to reflect the parts of forestry that my dad is passionate about—mainly economics and policy,” Pylant said. “We also wanted the lecture to attract as many people outside of academia as well. We decided on a yearly series to not dilute any of our potential speakers. Our intent is to show people outside of academia how important and interesting forestry is to everyone.”
Topic of interest
Each guest speaker within the Emmett & ViAnn Thompson Lectures in Forest Economics & Policy will address topics such as forest economics, forest markets, forest policy and global trade. This year, the CFWE welcomes Brooks Mendell, president and CEO of Forisk Consulting, to spark discussions about forest investment decisions.
Mendell represents three decades of consulting, operating and research experience in the forest products and timber industries. In his lecture titled “Forest Finance and Economics: Making Investment Decisions in Times of Uncertainty,” Mendell will speak to a framework of forest investment strategy encompassing physical facts, stakeholder priorities and policy environments that affect decision making.
Organized by the lecture planning committee chair and Auburn’s Earl H. and Sandra H. Weaver Professor Marc Walley, the topic of choice for the inaugural lecture is increasingly appropriate given the uncertainties of the current decade and what is forecasted for the industry in the coming years.
“Alabama’s 23 million acres of forestland represent the third-largest timberland base in the United States, and the forest products sector is the state’s largest manufacturing industry,” said Walley. “Given the economic impact of this sector and the growing importance of forestry and natural resources in sustaining and improving our lives, it is essential to deepen our awareness in this area. Dr. Emmett Thompson, who served as dean of Auburn’s forestry program during my time as a student, was always seeking ways to enhance our college’s academic offerings. I am confident attendees at the lecture will come away better informed of the challenges, opportunities and growth potential associated with our sector.”
Outreach and education for years to come
The Thompson lectures in the CFWE are a prime example of how the college is contributing to the university’s founding principles of research, instruction and extension. Through philanthropic initiatives such as this lecture series, the CFWE is poised to take a leap in educational outreach.
“The Emmett and ViAnn Thompson lectures serve as a testimony to the importance and impact that our college has on everyone who engages with it,” said Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson dean of the CFWE. “Our faculty, staff, students and past leadership are highly invested in what the CFWE is capable of accomplishing, and the future is incredibly promising because of the countless people who make the college what it is today.”
For more information about the Emmett & ViAnn Thompson Lecture in Forest Economics and Policy, visit its webpageto learn more about 2025’s Thompson Distinguished Lecturer and event details.
