Field Naturalist Faculty and Students

Our tight-knit cohorts of six students per year learn as much from each other as from their mentors, our core faculty and numerous affiliated instructors. Many alumni return to share their expertise with the next generation, either as instructors or guest lecturers, or for a casual brown-bag lunch.

Core Faculty

Walter Poleman

Walter Poleman

Director, Field Naturalist Program • Senior Lecturer

Sonia smiling

Sonia DeYoung

Assistant Director, Field Naturalist Program • Exhibits & Outreach Coordinator, Natural History Collections

Catherine Paris smiling at the camera

Cathy Paris

Botany Instructor, Field Naturalist Program • Senior Lecturer Emerita

Alicia before some budding leaves

Alicia Daniel

Practicum Instructor, Field Naturalist Program • Director, Vermont Master Naturalist

Joshua Brown

Joshua Brown

Senior Writer for Science and Environment

Affiliated Faculty & Guest Instructors

Headshot Dave Barrington

David S. Barrington

Professor Emeritus

Brian Beckage smiling at the camera

Brian Beckage

Professor, Department of Computer Science • Gund Institute for Environment Faculty Fellow

Jessica Cole

Jessica Cole

Professional Advisor

Grace wearing an orange work vest in the woods

Grace Glynn

Vermont State Botanist

Vic Izzo headshot

Vic Izzo

Head of Undergraduate Education, Institute for Agroecology • Co-Director, UVM Environmental Studies Program

Stephen Keller smiling at the camera

Stephen R. Keller

Associate Professor of Plant Biology

Sophie in front of a sweeping mountain view in autumn colors

Sophie Mazowita

Consulting Wildlife Ecologist

A snowy Jason whose beard and mustache are covered in frost.

Jason Mazurowski

Wildlands Ecologist, Northeast Wilderness Trust

Jane smiling at camera

Jane Molofsky

Professor of Plant Biology

Morgan kneeling on the forest floor holding a GPS

Morgan Southgate

Postdoctoral Researcher, Appalachian Mountain Club

Bob Zaino

Vermont State Natural Community Ecologist

Students

Lena in a blue cap and bandana around her neck, by a garden

Lena Andrews

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Clara smiles and holds a hand lens in front of a paper birch tree

Clara Chaisson

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Gordon in running gear in front of a rocky slope with pines

Gordon Coates

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Annie smiling with a backdrop of autumn leaves

Annie Nelson

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Darian in front of a flower garden

Darian Rubow

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Zoe in front of a rocky shore

Zoë Smiarowski

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AP, Class of 2027

Greta Aiken

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

Ben in front of a forested lake in autumn

Ben Applegate

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

Naya by a turquoise mountain lake

Naya Banerjee

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

Laura by a forest stream

Laura Costello

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

Emily on a mountain summit

Emily DeAlto

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

Matthias with a sunset behind him

Matthias Sirch

Graduate Student, Field Naturalist Program • Cohort AO, Class of 2026

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