Rate My Professor Brian McCarthy

Brian C. McCarthy is the Senior Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Forest Ecology in the Department of Environmental and Plant Biology at Ohio University, positions he has held since arriving at the university in 1992. He obtained a B.S. in Biology from Saint Peter's College (1982), an M.S. in Botany from Ohio University (1984), and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers University (1989). McCarthy's academic interests in Biology focus on forest ecology, including studies on hardwood regeneration, American chestnut restoration, dendrochronology, forest herbs, invasive species ecology, and mineland reclamation. His research integrates experimental and observational approaches to examine population dynamics and community ecology in eastern hardwood forests. He has authored or co-authored over 125 peer-reviewed papers, delivered more than 300 conference presentations, secured over $1.25 million in external funding, and mentored over 50 graduate students to degree completion. Recent publications include 'Positive regeneration responses of oak, hickory, and american chestnut to repeated prescribed fires and mechanical thinning 22 years after study initiation' (Rudolph et al., 2025, Forest Ecology and Management), 'Interspecific, conspecific, and ontogenetic responses of tree rings to climate: A case study utilizing Carya glabra, Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, and Quercus montana' (Rudolph et al., 2024, Dendrochronologia), and 'A decades-long case study: Understanding the effects of mesophication on the forest community with emphasis on Carya spp. Dynamics' (Rudolph et al., 2024, Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society).

McCarthy has taught courses in forest science, vegetation analysis, plant community ecology, and biostatistics. His service contributions encompass leadership roles such as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society (2002-2013), editorial board service for International Journal of Forestry Research (2008-2014) and Forests (2009-2014), President of the Ohio Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation (2009-2014), Board of Directors for The American Chestnut Foundation (2004-2015), and Program Chair for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. In his administrative role, he supports college operations, faculty management across 19 departments, committee representation, and facilities planning.