Rate My Professor Calvin Norman

Calvin L. Norman serves as Assistant Teaching Professor of Forestry in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Pennsylvania State University, a position he has held since August 2022. A Wisconsin native, he earned a Master of Science in Forest Resources from Clemson University in May 2020. During his graduate studies, he worked as a research assistant investigating integrated control methods—mechanical, herbicide, and fire—for the invasive Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) at the US Marine Corps Depot Parris Island. Norman holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Forestry and Wildlife Ecology and Management from Michigan Technological University, awarded in May 2017 with Cum Laude honors, Dean’s List recognition for five semesters, and membership in the Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honors Society. His early career included roles as Resource Forester at JM Longyear, co-managing 20,000 acres of commercial forestland in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from May to December 2017, and several research technician positions at Michigan Technological University from 2016 to 2017, supporting projects for the US Forest Service Northern Forest Research Station, including surveys of northern hardwoods and soil analysis for carbon fate studies. From June 2020 to August 2022, he was Forestry and Wildlife Extension Educator at Penn State Extension in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, educating the public and professionals on natural resource management.

Norman’s academic interests include forest and wildlife management, forest carbon, climate change adaptation and mitigation, invasive species management, silviculture, wood products, chronic wasting disease, extension education, and communicating science. He co-founded the Forest Owner Carbon and Climate Education (FOCCE) program and established the Functional Forest Lab. Key publications encompass extension articles such as “Carbon Accounting in Forest Management” (2023, with M. Kreye et al.), “Key Words and Phrases for Forest Owners Interested in Forest Carbon Markets” (2023, with M. Kreye), “Heating with Wood: An Introduction” (2023), and peer-reviewed works including “European deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena cervi) and blacklegged ticks on elk and white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania” (2023, Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario, with M.J. Skvarla et al.). He has delivered presentations at conferences like the Society of American Foresters National Conference and the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals Biennial Conference. Awards include the 2022 Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Integrated Team Award for FOCCE, 2023 Employee of the Year from Nex Gen Forestry, 2022 Innovative Natural Resource Program Gold Level Award from ANREP for “Advice from the Woods,” and 2022 National Extension Award for Diversity for the Latinx Agricultural Network. Norman has secured grants, such as $5,000 from Penn State’s School of International Affairs for a 2024 webinar series on the war in Ukraine’s impacts on people, forests, and the environment. Through extension efforts, he educates landowners, agencies, and students to enhance forest health and sustainability.