Employer, nature of work, title, dates, total
years.
1961 – 1962
Research Aide, N. Y. State Conservation Dept., Ithaca, N.
Y.
1962
Forest Worker, U. S. Forest Service, Orifino, Idaho
1963 – 1965
Forestry Field Aide, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (part
time)
1965
Research Forester, U. S. Forest Service, Charleston, SC
Established bottomland hardwood study. Collected field data
with assistance of a six-person crew. Data and physical
samples were used for my M.S. research project. Laboratory
analyses and additional field studies were conducted from
1965 to 1967.
1965 – 1971
Research Assistant, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (part time)
Worked 20 hours a week. Form 1965 to 1967 worked on bottomland
hardwood project and soil site index project. From 1967
to 1971 served as coordinator for the soil physics and soil
and plant chemistry laboratories in the School of Forest
Resources, supervising as many as six laboratory workers.
1971 – 1972
Associate Extension Forester, Clemson University, Clemson,
SC Responsible for developing forestry educational programs
in 23 counties. Hired August 23, 1971
1972 – 1974
Assistant Professor of Forestry, Extension Forester, Clemson
University Continued program developments for 23 counties.
Assumed project leader role in late 1972. Responsible for
development of a prescribed burning demonstration program
and statewide program development
1974 – 1978
Associate Professor of Forestry, Extension Forester, Clemson
University Continued in role of project leader. Administrative
responsibilities increased to 30 percent. Responsibilities
were statewide program development, budgeting, and personnel
management.
1978 – 1988
Professor of Forestry, Extension Forester, Clemson University
Administrative duties expanded to 70 percent. Duties include
all listed earlier as well as direct involvement with long-range
planning and fiscal responsibilities
1988
Present Professor of Forestry, Extension Forester, Clemson
University Responsible for statewide program development
in reforestation; environmental education for youth and
teachers including teaching KATE; landowner education programs
including the Master Tree Farmer Program; forest management
for all audiences including Christmas tree management, timber
taxation, and uneven management.
Institutions, rank, specialization, dates, total academic
years.
Clemson University, Professor, Silviculture, 1985 - present
Master Tree Farmer Program ED 634/FOR 700
(Teaching Teachers about the Environment).
FOR 891
1972 Associate Extension Forester. Assistant Professor
of Forestry
1974 Associate Professor of Forestry
1978 Professor of Forestry
Kessler, G. D., L. J. Boller Sr., Horace Skipper, Donald
Winslow, Jr. 1997. A KATE Teaching Curriculum for Seventh
and Eighth Grades. 120 pp.
Kessler, G. D., L. J. Boller Sr., Horace Skipper, Donald
Winslow, Jr. 1997. KATE II Data Book. 76 pp.
Kessler, G. D. 2001. Road Building and Chemical Best Management
Practices. American Forest Foundation.
Kessler, George D. 2001. Forestry and the Federal Income
Tax. Clemson University. 14 pp.
Off-campus consulting, other professional activities, special
honors, recognition, during the past five years:
Off-campus consulting:
Created, developed, refined and expanded the Master Tree
Farmer Program from a South Carolina program to a program
reaching thousands in fourteen states.
Changed the Master Tree Farmer to a satellite delivery
program.
Created a multi-media approach to make the Master Tree
Farmer Program more interesting and stimulating.
Developed a web site to support the Master Tree Farmer
Program.
Raised $25,000 in 1999, $89,000 in 2000 and $90,000 in
2001 to support the Master Tree Farmer Program.
An additional $300,000 was generated in other states to
support the program. Recruited and trained speakers from
Clemson and from across the South to present the Master
Tree Farmer Program.
Coordinated the development of a 975 page landowner handbook
on forest management. Wrote 28 pages of the book.
Developed 15 video teaching pieces for the Master Tree
Farmer Program.
Conducted numerous county programs on timber taxes, uneven-aged
management and forest management topics.
Generated $40,000 per year (1998-2001) to support the Teaching
Kate program. Edited and published 10 new lesson plans for
Teaching KATE web site.
Prepared over 100 lesson plans for teachers available worldwide
on the internet (http://www.teachingkate.org/).
Worked with Pat Layton to develop a satellite broadcast
BMP model for the American Forest Foundation.
Worked with Larry Nelson to carry out workshops and landowner
training sessions and one national presentation on uneven-aged
management.
Conducted landowner surveys for the Master Tree Farmer
Program for 10 states and a longleaf survey for a national
conservation organization.
Conducted 65 instructor training sessions for the Teaching
Kate Program.
Xi Sigma Pi
Sigma Xi
Gamma Sigma Delta Secretary,
Chairman Elect,
Chairman Epsilon Sigma Phi
1997 SCAE4-HA Natural Resources Education Award
1998 Outstanding Education Program. Teaching KATE
program was recognized as the Outstanding Conservation Education
Program award from the SC Wildlife Federation.
1999 Christmas Tree Grower of the Year. SC Christmas
Tree Association.
2000 Extension Forester of the Year. Awarded from
the Forest Landowners Association for Master Tree Farmer
program.
2001 Clemson University Board of Trustees Award
for Faculty Excellence
2001 Outstanding Achievements In Sustainable Forestry.
American Forest Foundation
South Carolina Forestry Association
Chairman, Membership Committee
Policy and Long Range Goals Committee
Program Chairman
Public Relations Committee
Forest Productivity Task Force
Forest Productivity Steering Committee
Affiliates Committee Forest Landowner Committee
Foresters Council of South Carolina
Clemson Representative
Secretary/Treasurer
Piedmont Forestry Club
Executive Committee Member
Secretary/Treasurer
Vice President
South Carolina Tree Farm Committee
Clemson Extension Sponsor Representative
South Carolina Farm Bureau
Forestry Advisor
Southern Extension Foresters
Secretary/Treasurer
Vice Chairman Forest Management
Chairman, Forest Management
Numerous Committees
Society of American Foresters
Appalachian Section
Honors and Awards Committee
Education Committee
Chairman, Education Committee
Society of American Foresters
South Carolina Division Awards
Committee Bylaws Committee
Chairman, Education Committee
South Carolina Extension
Specialists Association Director South Carolina
Environmental Education Association
Chairman, Interagency Committee
FORS Institute
Founding Director
National Tree Farm Operating Committee
Coalition for Natural Resources Education
Chairman
South Carolina Christmas Tree Growers Association
President
Director
Forest Farmers Association
Governor's Council on Environmental Education
Governor's Task Force for Natural Resources
Forest Landowners Association
South Carolina Wildlife Federation
National Audubon Society
American Forestry Foundation
National Operating Committee
I have attended numerous workshops on subjects such as
program development, land use issues, environmental concerns,
private landowner needs, timber investment, program administration,
timber taxation, silviculture, and youth development to
continue professional development and to prepare myself
for new challenges.
Contact George D Kessler
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