Paul Ries

Dr. Paul Ries is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry at Oregon State University's College of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society. With over 35 years of experience in natural resources, wildland fire management, and urban forestry, he specializes in leadership training and innovative education programs like the Municipal Forestry Institute. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Carson-Newman University and degrees from The Ohio State University.

His research focuses on urban and community forestry, green infrastructure resilience, and natural resources leadership. Notable projects include analyzing urban tree species diversity in Milwaukee and evaluating leadership training impacts. He teaches courses like FES/HORT 350 and FES 560, emphasizing practical skills for urban forestry professionals.

Ries has authored/co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed articles since 2019, exploring topics such as urban tree planting motivations and green infrastructure constraints in small communities. Though he does not hold a formal research appointment, his work bridges academic education with real-world urban forestry challenges.

He advises one graduate student, Chase Giebner, and leads programs like the Green Communities Leadership Institute. His professional contributions include serving as Past-President of the International Society of Arboriculture and maintaining ISA Certified Arborist status since 1988.