Jason Gordon

Jason Gordon is an Associate Professor of Community Forestry at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. His work focuses on the social dimensions of natural resource management, particularly urban forestry, wildfire hazards, and community engagement. He holds a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Penn State and teaches courses such as Society and Natural Resources, Community Forest Management, and Urban Forestry Practicum. His research integrates social science methodologies to assess public attitudes toward urban growth, environmental risk perceptions, and wildfire mitigation strategies.

• Education: Ph.D. (Rural Sociology, Penn State), M.S. (Rural Sociology, Penn State), B.S. (Forest Resources, UGA)
• Key Research Areas: Urban-rural interface dynamics, tree risk management, conservation easements, and policy evaluation

Recent publications highlight his expertise in economic contributions of urban forestry, pandemic impacts on forestry sectors, and migration’s socioeconomic effects. He has received awards for outreach (e.g., Warnell Alumni Award) and led projects on forestland tax policies and Guatemalan migration analyses. Gordon advises students in both MNR and MS programs, with current advisees focusing on community forestry, wildfire management, and urban ecology.

• Labs/Centers: Tree Health Care and Community Forestry Lab
• Outreach Focus: Arboriculture practices, urban tree risk assessment, and community planning