Christopher Dicus

Christopher Dicus is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University. He serves as Cal Poly’s resident wildland fire expert and holds leadership roles in several fire-related organizations, including President of the Association of Fire Ecology, head of the Wildland-Urban Interface Module of the California Fire Science Consortium, and a board member of the San Luis Obispo County FireSafe Council. He is also a Certified Senior Fire Ecologist and a California Registered Professional Forester.

• Ph.D. in Forestry from Louisiana State University
• M.S. in Forest Resources from Utah State University
• B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife from Louisiana Tech University

Dr. Dicus focuses on reducing fire risk in the wildland-urban interface, studying the impacts of fuel treatments on wildfire behavior, and assessing ecological consequences of fire. His work bridges scientific research with practical applications for sustainable fire management. Students praise his expertise, engaging teaching style, and the real-world relevance of his courses, which include field trips and hands-on projects.

He contributes to fire science through active involvement in professional societies and collaborates with state and national organizations to advance fire resilience strategies. Away from academia, he enjoys family time, church activities, backpacking, surfing, and music composition.