After a national search, the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University has named prominent quantitative forest ecologist and cutting-edge researcher Andrew Sánchez Meador as its new executive director. He replaces ERI founder and long-time executive director Wally Covington, who retired in January.
Sánchez Meador is a trusted expert among ecologists, scientists and land managers for his high-impact research in forestry and ecological restoration and innovative approach to science delivery and communication.
He is joining the ERI from NAU’s School of Forestry, where he served as faculty for eight years and is an associate professor of forest biometrics and quantitative ecology. Sánchez Meador’s scholarly interests have largely been focused on ecological restoration of frequent-fire forests of the southwestern United States; improving scientists’ understanding of how disturbances, such as wildfire, shape forests; and championing the incorporation of new technologies in forestry and ecological restoration practices.
“As the executive director, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build on the ERI and NAU’s core strengths of outstanding academics, research, public service and creative problem solving,” Sánchez Meador said. “I’m keenly interested in how new innovations from outside the forestry and restoration sector can be adopted to increase our effectiveness and capacity to do forest restoration.”
Sánchez Meador is a well-known innovator in the areas of forest and landscape-level data collection and analysis. His forward-looking approach to using remote sensing tools, data visualization techniques and emerging technology will continue to help modernize and advance the restoration of forest ecosystems.
Story from the Arizona Daily Sun
.
