Nina Payne is presented with the Public Service Award for Excellence in Forestry by Alabama ACF Chapter member T.R. Clark.
The Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF) recently honored Nina Dowling Payne, Southern Forest Nursery Management Cooperative research associate at Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE), as the recipient of the 2026 Public Service Award for Excellence in Forestry. Payne is a CFWE alumna, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1979 and a Master of Natural Resources in 2022.
This national award recognizes public-sector partners whose leadership, innovation and commitment advance the consulting forestry profession; all qualities Payne demonstrates through her work with students and forestry professionals across the region.
The ACF is a professional organization committed to serving independent consulting foresters who manage forests and market forest products for private woodland owners. Representing about 750 members in 37 states, the organization promotes the highest standards of professional practice and stewardship within the forestry profession.
Payne was recognized by the ACF during the 2026 ACF National Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for her instrumental role in building Auburn’s Consulting Forestry course from the ground up and serving as its instructor. Through her leadership, Alabama Chapter ACF members became actively involved in the course, providing students with practical exposure to consulting forestry through real-world experiences and perspectives. She also has worked extensively to connect students with professional development opportunities, including continuing education programs, certifications, networking events and ACF activities, helping prepare them for successful careers in forestry.
As an ACF member, she works closely with consulting foresters across Alabama and the southeastern United States to grow their profession by exposing forestry students to the career field. Students in the class have identified interactions with practicing consulting foresters, many of whom are CFWE alumni, as among the most practical experiences of the academic program. Interest in the Consulting Forestry course garnered national attention for its approach to experiential learning and professional development. Auburn’s program is increasingly viewed as a model for consulting forestry education at colleges and universities across the country.
“This class brings together two groups I especially enjoy working with: forestry students and ACF members,” Payne said. “While I never expected to become a consulting forester, that experience showed me how the combination of my education, personality and working on my family’s timberland came together to make consulting a perfect fit for me. I want to help students have their own ‘light bulb moments’ when they see how their own backgrounds, interests, education and skills can shape their future. Receiving this award while doing something I love makes the recognition sweeter.”
ACF leaders praised her lasting impact, with President Gerald H. Grossman noting her “extraordinary contribution to the future of consulting forestry,” and Executive Director Shannon McCabe highlighting her role in bridging students, universities and practicing foresters. Her dedication continues to inspire the next generation of consulting foresters, and her legacy will live with the students and communities she has impacted.
