Melinda Vokoun

Experience and Interests

Teaching Experience

• Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2013 – present)
• Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2007 – 2013)
• Research and Teaching Assistant, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2000 – 2005)

Research Interests

• Private woodland owners and land management activities
• Logger behavior and policy impacts on timber management activities
• Policy and management impacts on forest management activities and forest composition

Professional Experience

• Research Associate, North Carolina State University (2005-2007)
• Research Assistant, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2000 – 2005)
• Vegetative Sampler, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (May 1999 – September 1999)

Involvement

Campus

• Forestry Internship Coordinator, Member CNR Internship Committee
• Co-academic advisor to the UWSP Society of American Foresters Student Chapter
• Forestry Discipline Library Representative
• CNR Scholarship Committee Member

Community

• National Society of American Foresters CFE coordinator
• Wisconsin Society of American Foresters Awards committee chair (2019 – present), DEI committee member (2021 – present)
• Volunteer (2009 – present)

Professional Memberships

• Society of American Foresters (1996 – present)
• International Association for Society and Natural Resources (2016-2017)

“Join a student group (or two)! It is a great way to determine if something is a good fit and gives you a community at UW-Stevens Point.”

Melinda Vokoun

FUN FACTS

Last book you read?

The Journeys of Trees: A story about forests, people, and the future by Zach St. George

Best advice you ever received?

Become involved in the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A wildlife biologist, I wanted to study wolves or moose.

Favorite quote?

“An economist without knowledge of nature is therefore like a physicist without knowledge of mathematics” Carl Linnaeus

One thing about your college that you are most proud of?

We have an excellent undergraduate job placement rate and excellent participation in our annual undergraduate research symposium. The UWSP CNR is one of the best places to learn about natural resources and forestry!

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

Interacting with students, seeing that “aha” moment when they finally accomplish their goal.