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75th anniversary graphic

Celebrating 75 Years

Dean Janaki Alavalapati

Dr. Janaki R.R. Alavalapati, Dean

Read The Dean's Message

1888
1896
1905
1907
1908
1923
1924
1927
1930
1936
1938
1940
1945
1946
1947
1951
1953
1960
1969
1971
1976
1977
1978–1980
1984
1985
1986
1998
1999
2002
2005
2010
2015
2021

1888

First annual report of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station contains a survey of woods in Alabama by P.M. Mell, Jr., professor of natural history

 

1896

API adds a one semester course in horticulture that includes observations in forestry

 

1905

Botany department adds research in forestry

 

1907

Horticulture department adds first course in forestry

 

1908

R.S. Mackintosh becomes the first professor of horticulture and forestry

 

1923

Lamar M. Ware, “the father of Auburn forestry,” joins the faculty as assistant professor of horticulture and forestry

 

1924

Associate Professor Otto Brown named the first extension forester

 

1927

L.M. Ware established the first forestry plantation at Auburn, initiating forestry research

 

1930

L.M. Ware appointed head of Department of Horticulture and Forestry

 

1936

Alabama Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit established at API under the direction of Harold S. Peters

 

1938

Elmer A. Jones receives the first master of science degree in game management

 

1940

API acquires first two experiment forests in Barbour and Coosa counties

 

1945

Alabama legislature passes bill to authorize the establishment of the first undergraduate forestry degree in API

 

1946

Forestry becomes a standalone curriculum in the horticulture and forestry department

 

1947

  • Forestry becomes a standalone department in the School of Agriculture
  • R.H. Westveld appointed first head of forestry department, July 1, 1947
  • T.D. Stevens head of forestry department (1947–1950)
  • Forestry building dedicated

 

1951

W.B. DeVall appointed head of forestry department (1951–1977)

 

1953

James E. Moak receives the first master of science in forestry

 

1960

Zoology-Entomology Department offers the first degree option in wildlife sciences

 

1969

Forestry building named for M. White Smith, Jr.

 

1971

Alden Main earned the first Ph.D. in forestry

 

1976

M.L. Rollins (Gamble) is the first woman and Ernest Boyd the first African American to earn bachelor’s degrees in forestry

 

1977

Emmett F. Thompson appointed forestry department head (1977–1985)

 

 

1978–1980

Solon and Martha Dixon donate 5,300 acres of timberland and Dixon homestead to establish the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center

 

1984

The School of Forestry is formed

 

1985

Emmett F. Thompson appointed the first dean of the School of Forestry (1985–1998)

 

1986

Zoology-Wildlife Sciences department transfers to the College of Sciences and Mathematics

 

1998

Richard W. Brinker appointed the second dean of the School of Forestry (1998–2010)

 

1999

Forestry and wildlife sciences merge to form the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

2002

Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building groundbreaking

 

2005

Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building dedication

 

2010

James Shepard appointed dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences (2010–2014)

 

2015

Janaki R.R. Alavalapati appointed dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences (2015–present)

 

2021

Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

 

CFWS History Through Photos

Upcoming Events

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alumni enjoy fellowship during the homecoming barbeque The Spears and Lowe family enjoys food and fellowship during an alumni homecoming barbeque hosted at the School. alumni socialize during Dean's tailgate Alumni Joe Roberson and Mark and Diane Bond with daughter Mary Carson socialize during the 2017 Dean's Tailgate. Students in Brazil Forestry study abroad trip to Brazil. student awardees 2020 Student Ambassadors family gathered during alumni barbecue 2017 Alumni Homecoming Barbeque students handling reptiles at dixon center Wildlife Summer Practicum Dean Alavalapati meets with young alumni society Compass Circle Young Alumni Giving Society members meet with Dean Alavalapati during the group's first Dean's Roundtable. graduate students outside sfws building after graduation New alumni celebrate at 2017 Fall Graduation Juarez with a Society for Natural Resources member, Dr. Barlow, and Dr. Kush. First annual Society of Natural Resources Chili Cookoff forestry students at conclave Forestry Conclave alumni shown with dean alavalapati and wife renuka Shown pictured during the Dean's Tailgate are from left to right, Sara Heatherly, Michael Heatherly, Dean and Renuka Alavalapati, and Mr. and Mrs. Gee Allgood. Michael Ramirez and Sarah Wilson become engaged at the SFWS "Michael Ramirez and I got engaged behind the SFWS building on August 1, 2020. We met at Auburn in 2016 while we were both working on our master's degrees- Michael in Forestry, myself in Wildlife. We spent a lot of our time in that building and have a lot of special memories there. It was the perfect, beautiful, place for us to start our future together!"

- Sarah Wilson '18 SFWS Students on study abroad trip to Chile SFWS students prepare for a horseback trek in the Andes Mountains during a 2008 study abroad trip to Chile.

- Richard Hall '95

75 Years of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University, written by Arthur L. Slotkin

Featuring first-hand accounts and historic photographs, this anthology will take readers on a journey through time to learn how Auburn’s forestry and wildlife programs evolved to become the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, a flagship institution for natural resources education, research and extension.

Order your copy of this keepsake book for only $29.95. Orders begin shipping via USPS in February 2021.

Order your copy today!

Please join us in appreciation of the individuals and organizations who contributed to the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University:

 

Planning Committee Chairs: Drs. Becky Barlow and Mark Smith
Committee Members: Jamie Anderson, Heather Crozier, Paula Davis, Dr. Glenn Glover ’73, William Green ’14, Sue Robinson, and Frank Walburn ’79

Historical Analysis and Documentation: Arthur L. Slotkin ’68, author of 8 books concerning the history of science and technology, including 75 Years of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University

Broadcast and Media Services: Al Eiland and Kelly Knowles; Michael Hales, Jim Jackson, Kevin Fichtner, Heather Jackson, and Megan Burmester of the Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing

Additional footage provided by: Sarah Kirk, Destination Whitetail, and FilmCru Studios

History Through Photos

Samford Hall, circa 1897
API Cadets pruning peach trees in the field in the late 1800s or early 1900s.
Headshot of F.S. Earle
Man standing in front of piles of timber.
Headshot of R.S. MacKintosh.
Cows graze outside of Comer Agricultural Hall.
Two men work at a hand saw on a cut down tree to harvest timber.
Small building across a dirt road with the title "WILDLIFE" above the entrance.
Three men sit in front of a large tree with "API" carved into its bark.
Barbour Experiment Forest with few trees in a large, grassy field, circa 1944.
Loblolly-shortleaf pine in old field, circa 1944.
Longleaf seedlings of various sizes closely placed in a field, circa 1942.
Hardwood trees.
Man stands in forest, observing growth in 11-13 year old trees.
Man stands at podium in front of seated colleagues on the steps of the Forestry Building, circa 1949.
Forestry Building and parking lot, circa 1949.
Students sit in forestry class overseen by their instructor, circa 1949.
Student tests wood in 100,000 pounds tester in timber physics laboratory, circa 1949. One student operates the machine while two others record with an instructor observing.
Three men work at chipping bark off of a tree, circa 1948.
Two men use a large saw in a sawing contest with many onlookers.
One man records ecology information on a canvas-like structure at summer camp, circa 1948.
Men are gathered for a forest management learning exercise, with the instructor gesturing to a visual aid stand, circa 1948.
Man bends down to look through a structure for transit work.
Students walk downstairs carrying microscopes.
API Short Course on Lumber Grading, March 1953
Foundation officers Harold Coan, Roy Gamble and Frank Stewart reviewing the foundation budget in 1976
President R.B. Draughon, Head Professor W. B. DeVall, and C.H. Cantrell, director of the Auburn University Library receive certificate from the Forest History Society
men review forestry forum program, 1966
students at forestry camp in Atmore, AL, 1964
L.M. Ware, "Father of Forestry" at Auburn
Members of the Auburn Consulting Committee on Forestry Research
Men stand at podium
First Woman initiate, Rebecca Wright, joins Xi Sigma Pi National Forestry Honorary, 1975
man presented award
men review building plans
Sketch of proposed forest products lab used for fundraising, 1973
Emmett F. Thompson, 1977
members of forestry faculty, 1970s
elizabeth ballard received certificate as registered forester, late 1970s
man checks beaver dam for an active crossing
collaring a gray fox, 1970s
Solon and Martha Dixon present check to AU President Philpott
Original sign in front of Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center
Solon Dixon stands at a podium at Dixon Center
First summer camp at Dixon Center, 1980
Students standing in front of new dormitories, Dixon Center, 1980
Students eating in cafeteria at the Dixon Center, 1980
Solon and Martha Dixon at the family graveyard at the Dixon Center, photo: Solon Dixon
Forestry Advisory Council formed, DeVall and council members, Lee, Murphy, Cantalou and Stewart, 1983
Everett E. “Rhett” Johnson, director, Dixon Center, 1980–2006, photo: 1980s
Dean Emmett Thompson stands in front of School of Forestry sign
Shown are Martha Dixon, Red Bamberg, President Pro Tem of the board of trustees, James Martin, Emmett Thompson, Phillip Jones, Treasurer, Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, April 1990
Richard Brinker, 1993
Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve road sign
Dean Emmett Thompson presents Glenn Glover with teaching award.
Thompson announced his retirement date as April 1, 1998
Dean Richard Brinker
Dean Brinker at a building working session, clockwise, from top, left: David Northcutt, Office of AU Architect; Angie Stephens, SFWS Development Officer; Lane Messer, SFWS Student Services Office; Dean Richard Brinker, SFWS; Kent Hanby, Director of Student Services, SFWS; Mark Jensen, Architect, Cooper Cary, Inc.; Yann Cowart, Architect, Butner Architectural Group, Photo: Glover
groundbreaking ceremony for new Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building
Construction begins on new building in 2003, photo: Glover
Construction of building in Winter 2003-2004, photo: Glover
Construction continues, September 2004, photo: Glover
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building completed
Joel martin
Dean Brinker
Dean James Shepard
Dean James Shepard dedicates the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation Learning Center, April 2013
B.G. Lockaby
Janaki R.R. Alavalapati
Dixon family with Martha Dixon
alumni and dean alalavapati during the diversity luncheon
Martha Dixon
marc and penny walley
BeckyBarlow