Don Normandin, the research lab manager for the Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University, is retiring after 24 years of service to forest health research and ERI’s student research program.
Normandin’s journey at ERI began in the early 2000s as an NAU student seeking a degree in parks and recreation management. From there, he began working alongside ERI ecologists in the field and ultimately helped shape and define ERI’s longstanding student research program. Normandin became known for his expertise in forest health, dendrochronology, and field and lab research management, as well as his dedication to mentoring and inspiring students.
“Don has been the quiet force behind so much of ERI’s success over the past two decades,” said ERI’s Executive Director Andrew Sanchez-Meador. “His unwavering dedication, care for our students, and steadfast belief in our mission have shaped the culture of this place in ways that can’t easily be measured.”
Normandin arrived in Flagstaff from Tempe in early 2001, determined to chart a new path after working for several years in the banking business. Feeling stuck and uninspired, Normandin headed to Flagstaff to look for a career in the outdoors.
He decided to begin a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation management at NAU, hoping the degree would lead him into a career with the National Park Service or the USDA Forest Service.
However, when a job offer at Redwood National Park fell through, life took an unexpected turn. He chose to remain at NAU after being offered a seasonal position at ERI. That opportunity eventually led to a promotion to lab manager, during which he also completed a master’s degree in forestry.
In 2004, Normandin was officially hired as the full-time lab manager, a role he never anticipated he would hold for nearly 20 years.
“My intended career path hit a wall, took a hard left turn, and I was fortunate to land here,” he said. “I stayed because I liked what I was doing. At ERI, we are doing something that’s both productive and meaningful — we conduct the research and provide information for land managers to make decisions on the ground. Once you work for ERI, you will never just walk in the forest again.”
