Tim Glidden writes: “Surviving retirement by overcommitting myself to a homeless shelter capital campaign, various advisory boards, and managing a friend’s campaign for the Maine State Senate. Not forgetting time for a daughter and two grandsons living locally and visiting the other daughter, a consulting archivist in NYC. Traveling with my wife, Kathy Lyon, to Sicily last fall was also a gas. The joys of Spotify also let me create playlists to my heart’s content. All classmates eligible for a link!”

James Guldin writes: “I retired in 2020 from USFS R&D. Retirement brought my selection as SAF Fellow in 2020 and the USFS Lifetime Achievement Award in Silvicultural Excellence in 2022. And in 2021, I joined the Arkansas Foresters’ Hall of Fame, the fifth Yale Forestry graduate so honored. The others are Hank Chamberlin ’40, John Gray ’42, R. Keith Arnold ’38, and Doogie Darling ’58. Those names reflect the influence of the Yale Forestry tradition at Crossett in the middle of the 20th century. I knew them all well and feel honored to join them. In 2021, Melissa and I moved to Springfield, Missouri, to be closer to our son and his family. I now volunteer on the boards of directors of both the L-A-D Foundation and the Lovett Pinetum and also work on part-time ‘retired guy’ contracts with USFS Region 8 and SRS for continuing education and strategic planning for silviculture.”

Steven Hamburg writes: “I continue to serve as the chief scientist for EDF, where I lead a growing team of scientists and engineers working at the science-policy interface. By the time you read this, we will have launched (hopefully successfully) a satellite that makes high-precision measurements at a fine spatial scale of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from human activity around the world. Conceiving of this effort and then leading the team, turning it into a reality using philanthropic funding has been a huge challenge and privilege. There is still lots to do to ensure that the unique flux data we will provide for free drives reductions in emissions. Towards that end, I am working closely with the U.N. Environment Programme integrating all methane emissions data into policy relevant products that support the Global Methane Pledge signed by more than 150 countries. To counterbalance the day job, I continue to enjoy building my off-the-grid cabin in the southern White Mountains with its view of the Hubbard Brook Watersheds and Franconia Ridge that I started construction on in 1986 — clearly, I am a slow worker!”

Chuck Hewett writes: “I’ve spent the last five years conceiving the Roux Institute, a transformative genomics and life sciences graduate institute in Maine. A $500 million project to create a long-term campus is set to break ground this summer and includes a sustainable waterfront campus in Portland, featuring natural ecosystem restoration, mass timber, geothermal systems, and photovoltaics. Jackie Hewett ’82 and I now have two amazing grandchildren and a third may well be with us before this is published. Yahoo! Jackie and I split our time between a lake in eastern Maine and Key West. In both places, we boat, bicycle, bird watch, and enjoy far too many good meals with friends! Recent family trips include horse packing in the Teton Wilderness and a stay on the west coast of Ireland, with plans for an exciting adventure in Costa Rica next. These wonderful family adventures somehow dull the realization of how many years have passed.”

Michael Rees writes: “I’m doing well in Colorado, having retired from the NPS 5.5 years ago. My life is busy volunteering with a local food bank, hospital, library, Jeffco open space parks, and ushering at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. And of course I’m doing lots of hiking in Colorado’s glorious mountains, as well as leading hikes with the CO Mountain Club. Life is good!!”

Chuck Peters writes: “Am enjoying retirement in Austin, Texas. Setting type, printing on a Vandercook Universal I proof press, and binding books in the garage. For those who might not have heard, I had a motorcycle accident two years ago and currently negotiate life on a prosthetic left leg (BKA).”

Patricia Kolb Millet writes: “Jack and I are hanging in there, getting old — well I am, Jack is ageless. Still spending half the year in Cape Breton running a small business and enjoying the beach and music. We get occasional visits from Yale friends and enjoy sharing the joy of life there with them.” 

Al Sample writes: “Stepped away from teaching at George Mason this semester to concentrate on ‘natural climate solutions’ with the National Academy’s board on agriculture and natural resources and onboard activities at the Forest Stewards Guild run by Zander Evans ’97, ’06 PhD. Celebrated daughter Emily’s new PhD on nexus between climate change and human rights, focused mostly on Africa and Middle East. Already getting started planning 45th reunion of Class of 1980. Can’t put this off until our 50th because we miss one another and YSE too much for that.”

Jane Sokolow writes: “I have been reappointed to the New York State Open Conservation Plan Region II Advisory Committee. NYS Department of Conservation and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation convene the regional committees every 5-6 years with the goal of identifying open space that the state can acquire. And also, to restore biodiversity through habitat connectivity, increase climate resistance, ensure equitable outdoor access, and collaborate with tribal partners. Region II includes the five boroughs of New York City. Region II rarely gets acquisition money, but we always manage through partnerships to increase open space in the five boroughs.”

Steve Strauss writes: “I am still loving my work for Beaver Nation too much to retire, so on I go. Some great fun in the last year was to build a new research greenhouse, continue to enjoy the Oregon State women’s basketball team with a season ticket, drink the amazing craft beer produced here in Corvallis, and take multiday bike rides in fun places like Wyoming and the Dordogne region of France. And at the ripe age of 68, I continue to trail run in the College Forest and referee competitive youth soccer. Go Beavs!” 

Carol A. Zimmerman writes: “In August John and I traveled to Hendersonville, North Carolina, to celebrate the birthday of classmate Fran Rundlett. In January I realized my long-held dream of hiking in Patagonia, accompanied by John, son Sam, and his girlfriend, Amy, where we thrilled at the beauty of mountains and glaciers.”

Ann Clarke writes: “My husband and I visited White Sands and will be visiting northern Costa Rica. This fall I had lunch in Manhattan with Jane Sokolow ’80, my classmate at Colorado College and then at YSE. Meanwhile, I am president of the Yale Club of Monterey County, which hosted a brunch to mark the Yale-Harvard football game with the Yale Whiffenpoofs! Am continuing to teach persuasive legal writing and food, agricultural, and environmental law at the Monterey College of Law. I am on the special events committee of our senior living community, co-chair of programming for the Carmel Crafts Guild, and chair of a local organ concert series. Who would have thought there would be nothing to do after retiring from NASA! My most important activity is to at least once a year return to Connecticut to see my son. Grandchildren are into all things nature and space.”

Priscilla Whiteman Leavitt writes: “Living part time in Staunton, Virginia. Still putting a ton of Yale undergraduates in the woods every year on FOOT — about 800 (that’s a lot of granola). This year, I cut our own Christmas tree. Using my forestry skills!!” 

Elizabeth (Libby) Lyons writes: “Many years to summarize! Proudest accomplishments are my two kids: funny, sweet, smart, but most importantly — Red Sox fans! Professionally — who’d have thunk! MFS led to PhD (botany) led to faculty positions (and a sex discrimination lawsuit) to a 25-year government job at National Science Foundation, first in biology (a year away in Kenya following my husband, did cool research in the savannas) then NSF International Office which led to 3.5 years loaned to the State Department, a year in Japan as S&T attaché (for Ambassador Caroline Kennedy), four months in Jakarta helping Indonesia set up science funding agency, now retired. Wanted to get back to environmental roots and help this ailing planet for the next generation, now president of large Audubon Society doing more and more conservation work, bringing in youth and minorities in majority minority northern Virginia. I’d love to connect with folks working on community-based conservation and/or birds!”

Mark Plotkin writes: “My podcast ‘Plants of the Gods: Hallucinogens, Healing, Culture and Conservation’ just exceeded one million downloads. My organization — The Amazon Conservation Team — has just expanded its geographic focus to include the Sierra Nevada in northern Colombia.”

David Van Wie writes: “I moved from Maine to Lyme, New Hampshire, with my wife, Cheryl, in 2018 when she took the position as VP for alumni relations at Dartmouth College. I retired from environmental consulting work and now write and teach a graduate class called ‘Environmental Issues in the Global Media’ in the Guarini School at Dartmouth. I also enjoy advising graduate students through independent studies and master’s theses. I’ve published two books about dogs and fly fishing and am often standing in a trout stream or chasing grouse and woodcock with my English setter, Autumn. You can find me at www.watchyourbackcast.com.”

Bob Krumenaker writes: “After 41+ official years as a ranger, biologist, manager of natural resource programs, and park superintendent, I retired from the National Park Service in July 2023. Since then, I have worked at Grand Canyon, Zion, Dinosaur, Big Thicket, Isle Royale, Shenandoah, Valley Forge, Apostle Islands, Everglades, and Big Bend National Park/Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, where I was the superintendent the last five years. I also did stints in Washington D.C. and two regional offices. I am now living in New Mexico, near Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. While my principal goal for a while is spending time eating green chilies, woodworking, and doing home improvement projects, I remain involved in conservation and land management, most notably with www.keepbigbendwild.org, which seeks congressional designation of wilderness for the undeveloped areas of the parks. I am also (selectively) available for consulting where my expertise can make a difference.”

Dusti (Gardner) Becker writes: “Tony and I moved from Montana to Florida. We still direct Life Net Nature, advocating for degrowth and scaling down, doing giraffe conservation in Kenya, including a scholarship program for Maasai youth from families allowing giraffe nurseries on their lands. Still caring for Reserva las Tangaras (RLT) in Mindo, Ecuador, where our recent surveys found 211 bird species in 100 hectares. Volunteer with me to do bird banding and surveys at RLT in December 2024.” 

Fran Dunwell writes: “I’m now retired and enjoying a low-key schedule of hiking with my husband in our wonderful Shawangunks and learning Spanish on Duolingo. We visited Yosemite together in the fall. Our kids are launched and finding their way. I still enjoy the company of YSE friends Cara Lee and Betsy Blair ’83, who live nearby, and shared many common experiences in our Hudson River conservation careers. I also see Rosemary Furfey and Leah Haygood from time to time and follow the comings and goings of Therese Feng ’78 BS, ’84 MFS, ’98 PhD on Facebook. As I reflect on my years in New Haven, I am profoundly grateful for the experience at Yale. I plan to go to reunion this fall and hope to see you there!!”

Jeff Diehl writes: “In 1997, I co-founded Albion Environmental, a biological and cultural resources consulting firm in Santa Cruz, California. At the end of 2023, I finally retired and turned over the reins of the company to the next generation of owners. I now live in rural San Luis Obispo County with my husband, Rob Keim, and cattle dog, Ben. We are both Master Gardeners, but joke that our three acres of oak hillside is more of a gopher refuge than a garden. In the summer of 2024, I’ll be serving on the legislative committee for Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation at the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Louisville. Now that time is more available, I look forward to crossing paths and reconnecting with classmates from Yale.”

Whitney Tilt writes: “Still in Montana working with fun range of topics from elk and working lands to fisheries and climate change. Tramping the prairies with our gun dogs and fly fishing whenever I get the chance. Enjoy bumping into YSE alums in all sorts of nooks and crannies.”

Stephen Young writes: “I spent fall 2023 in Kazakhstan at the Kazakh National University as an international advisor assisting faculty and PhD students with the use of satellite data for environmental analysis. At the end of my stay, I was joined by my classmate Stephen Lowe. We rented a 4-wheel drive, visited various Kazakh national parks, hiked in the Tien Shan Mountains, and had a few tense run-ins with the Kazakh police!”

Jim Chamberlain writes: “Aloha friends. After almost 25 years with the U.S. Forest Service, doing research on food and medicine foraged from forests, I have gone independent. Some would say, I am retired, but I look at this as a transition to new frontiers. For most of my time with the Forest Service, I focused on understanding the ecological and economic impacts of harvesting native forest plants for peoples’ nutritional needs. Now, I am starting to convert my properties to an urban forest farm to grow these same plants as an alternative income source. I hope that this finds classmates in good health and spirits. You are all invited to visit us in southwest Virginia. Just let me know well in advance to make sure I am around.”

Eric Jay Dolin writes: “My new book was just published, ‘Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World’ (Liveright, May 2024). It is a true tale of intriguing complexity, with surprising twists and turns throughout (involving greed, lying, bullying, a hostile takeover, stellar leadership, ingenuity, severe privation, endurance, banishment, the great value of a dog, the birth of a baby, a perilous thousand-mile open-ocean journey in a 17-foot boat, an improbable rescue mission, and legal battles over a dubious and disgraceful wartime prize). While it is not an ‘environmental’ book, it does have significant sections on the islands’ wildlife. To see where I will be speaking, please visit www.ericjaydolin.com/events. I continue to enjoy living in Marblehead with my wife, Jennifer, and spend many hours wandering local beaches, looking out to the horizon, in search of inspiration.”

Eric Olson writes: “Since graduating from Yale, I did a PhD at UPenn focused on Costa Rican tropical dry forest insect ecology and seasonality. After a two-year stint coordinating courses for the Organization for Tropical Studies, I dove into teaching in the Boston area, mainly at Brandeis. The tropics called again and I've moved nearly full time to southern Nicaragua. Here with Nicaraguan partners and planters, we're restoring diverse tropical forest on 18 acres of cropland and pasture. Key ecological challenge? Sourcing a rich diversity of native tree seeds. Key social challenge? Arson. We have the support of most local folks, but a few cattlemen have engaged in fence cutting to pasture their animals. We've lost trees to fires, and the survivors are not as pretty as they should be, but we've persisted and our young forest is looking good. Visitors (and donors) welcome!”