SUNY ESF

09/03/2026

A major milestone has been reached in the effort to restore the American chestnut tree to the American landscape!

USDA APHIS has completed its review of ESF's blight-tolerant Darling 54 American chestnut and determined the trees are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. While the trees are not yet available to the public, this decision marks the completion of the first major federal regulatory review for the American chestnut and represents a significant step forward in the long-term effort to restore this iconic species to forests and communities across the country.

📰 Read more about this achievement, including input from our researchers: https://www.esf.edu/news/2026/usda_approves_american_chestnut_project.php

09/02/2026

If you're new to SUNY ESF, you should know we're a little quirky and we love our traditions. Here are a few things that are fun to look out for 👀

For our awesome alumni - which one of these was your favorite?

Read more about our traditions: https://www.esf.edu/news/2024/esf_traditions.php

09/01/2026

Check out online student Sherone Smith's summer internship ☀️

As the Parks Operations intern for Battery Park City Authority, she was responsible for updating the operations and maintenance manual, creating a waste diversion document, and lots of collaborating with different services and teams like the horticulture crew.

When she wasn't drafting that up or touring different areas of the city for info about care plans, she was practicing her public science communication through tabling events focused on different types of composting! Way to go, Sherone 😎

08/31/2026

Our Graduate School offerings have expanded!

This program, an advanced certificate, is made for those who want to be at the forefront of sustainability in business. It is designed to help graduates develop the knowledge and skills needed to integrate environmental stewardship, economic performance, and social responsibility into organizational decision-making.

You can read more about this program and our record-breaking newest graduate class: https://www.esf.edu/news/2026/esf_welcomes_largest_graduate_class.php

08/31/2026

Dr. Don Leopold will be at Fall Fest - will you? 🌲

08/28/2026

Back to school photo dump, courtesy of the Mighty Oaks 📸

08/27/2026

Student Youth Day at The Great New York State Fair was a total blast 🎡✨

We celebrated one of our newest Mighty Oaks, Grace DiOrio, receiving her college acceptance right at our tent! Her drive and talent came through on her application, and we can't wait to have her join us.

SUNY - The State University of New York Chancellor King joined us for some nature telestrations and to personally welcome Grace to the SUNY family along with President Mahoney. If you're near Chevy Court or The Eatery, stop on by to pick up an ESF pin or sticker and learn about our activity for the day 🌱♻️

08/26/2026

ICYMI: Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus at SUNY ESF and bestselling author, was featured on CBS Sunday Morning.

The interview focuses on her approach to interacting with and teaching others about the natural world. See if you can spot one of our classrooms!

Watch or read now:

The botanist's bestselling books, "Braiding Sweetgrass" and "The Serviceberry," advocate for living and working in collaboration with the Earth, and sharing the gifts of nature - ideas, she says, some may see as subversive.

08/26/2026

Meet the SUNY ESF Alumni Association 2026 Graduates of Distinction!

Lewis "Lew" Payne RS '81/FRM '84 is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his four decades of his influence in the utility industry and its relationship with the land. He is a national leader in integrated vegetation management and oversees 24,000 acres, setting the standard for conservation and stewardship within utility industry.

Sam Gordon AICP '97/'01/'05 is the recipient of the Notable Achievement award for his 20+ years of improving communities throughout Upstate New York through climate-resilient regional planning and award-winning design. He currently leads the planning practice at Environmental Design & Research, D.P.C.

Sarah Welz '18 is the recipient of the Incipiens Quercu (Beginning Oak) award. She is the Urban Forestry Project Manager for Nashville, advancing the city's longterm goal of 500,000 new trees by 2050. She also serves as the president of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and has delivered research that has attracted national attention.

We will be celebrating these talented, impactful alumni at the ESF Awards Dinner during ESF Fall Fest: Family & Homecoming Weekend on September 25th. To register for the dinner, sign up here: https://advancement.esf.edu/e/esf-awards-dinner/

08/26/2026

We love hosting events like this! It's always exciting to see the next generation getting hands-on and practicing their scientific skills 🐟