Cleveland State's Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries Dept. Growing

Holly Vincent
Thursday, August 10, 2017 12:00 AM
All, Employees, Academics

Cleveland, Tenn. —Want to ensure future generations have abundant and healthy natural resources? Cleveland State Community College can help you do just that. With new positions and staff making the college’s Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries (FWF) Department more robust, you’re able to learn the skills necessary to preserve our natural resources for generations to come.

Leading the FWF Department is Robert L. Brewer, Jr., newly named as the FWF Program Coordinator. A CSCC associate professor of biology since 2003, Brewer holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, respectively.

“The program at CSCC has grown substantially over the last few years,” Brewer said. “Hopefully, as we continue to grow we can add new courses and expand research opportunities and field experiences for FWF students.”

As Cleveland State Community College is the only two-year school in Tennessee to offer this program, students are given an opportunity to gain valuable experience early in their college career. The end result is that these students are more competitive as they continue school and eventually enter the workforce.

Following graduation from CSCC, most students transition into FWF programs at UTK or Tennessee Tech University. However, some students have gained full-time FWF employment with their two-year CSCC degree.

Joining Brewer is Jenny S. Paul, who holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology and aquatic ecology from the University of North Texas. Additionally, Paul recently earned her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in Zoology.

As a graduate researcher, Paul worked on several large-scale international studies involving fish and aquatic insects through the National Science Foundation. Currently, she is finishing her work for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources conducting stream surveys. In her new position at CSCC, she will teach a variety of existing courses, and will develop new courses in Fisheries and Freshwater Science over time.
           
“It’s an honor to be a part of the FWF unit at CSCC, which really is a unique and innovative program,” Paul said. “I am excited for the opportunity to give students hands-on exposure to fisheries early in their studies, and I look forward to getting some interesting research projects up and running.”

“Attending the CSCC FWF program is the smartest choice anyone can make if they are interested in working in these fields,” Brewer said. “They will gain valuable field experience, participate in research, and attend tuition free through TN Promise. Typically, students at four-year schools aren’t exposed to research opportunities or field experiences until their junior year. At CSCC, students are immersed in Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries starting with their first semester, and they will go on to be leaders in the programs they transfer to if they so choose.”

To learn more about Cleveland State Community College’s FWF program, visit www.clevelandstatecc.edu, call (423) 472-7141, ext. 342 or email Brewer at rbrewer@clevelandstatecc.edu.

 Robert Brewer