Carolyn Copenheaver

Carolyn Copenheaver is a Professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment. Her research focuses on forest ecology, dendrochronology, land-use history, and forest stand dynamics. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Juniata College (1993), an M.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine (1996), and a Ph.D. in Forestry from Pennsylvania State University (2000).

Her research integrates historical ecological methods with modern climatic analysis, including studies of forest succession patterns, invasive species impacts, and anthropogenic disturbances. Notable contributions include work on old-growth forest definitions, climate-growth relationships in tree species, and the historical ecology of North American forests. She teaches courses such as FREC 3314 (Forest Ecology and Silvics) and FREC 5374 (Advanced Forest Ecology).

Her publications span over two decades, addressing topics like dendroclimatology, land-use change, and mentoring undergraduate researchers. Recent work emphasizes the ecological impacts of historical land management practices and the adaptation of tree species to climatic stressors.