Graduates of the College of Forestry are our most valuable resource. Our alumni serve as a critical bridge between the university and the world, connecting Oregon State University and its students to communities and employers. They inspire our students to make a difference and they shape the world we live in.
This year, we honor the outstanding accomplishments of three College of Forestry alumni.
Kyle Cassidy
Director of Quality Assurance and Technical Services, Stella-Jones Corporation
Kyle Cassidy, an Oregon State University graduate in wood science and technology, is a recognized leader in the wood products industry. As director of quality assurance and technical services at Stella-Jones Corporation, he has more than 15 years of experience advancing quality systems, strengthening technical standards and ensuring operational excellence across more than 20 facilities in North America.
Joining Stella-Jones during a period of significant industry change, Cassidy applied his OSU foundation to guide transitions in preservative systems, implement ISO-based quality management practices and develop innovative compliance tools. His leadership has shaped regional quality teams, mentored managers and reinforced best practices in wood preservation.
Beyond his corporate role, Cassidy is an influential voice in the industry. He holds leadership positions with the American Wood Protection Association, the Western Wood Preservers Institute and the North American Wood Pole Council; serves as an alternate voting member on the American Lumber Standards Committee; and contributes to ANSI, ASTM and international research groups. A strong supporter of OSU’s wood preservation cooperatives, Cassidy’s commitment to technical excellence and sustainability has strengthened Stella-Jones while advancing the broader mission of durable, sustainable infrastructure. His dedication to innovation, mentorship and technical integrity reflects the values of Oregon State University.
Jennifer Powers
Professor, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota\
Jennifer Powers is a professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College in 1991, a Master of Science in forest science from Oregon State University in 1995 and a doctorate in biology from Duke University in 2001. She completed postdoctoral research at Stony Brook University and the University of Minnesota.
Her research focuses on how land use and climate change influence biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem processes and plant communities in seasonally dry tropical forest landscapes—ecosystems that are both remarkable and highly threatened. Her lab includes graduate students from Costa Rica, Colombia, Vietnam, Tanzania and the United States.
Powers served as editor-in-chief of Biotropica, the journal of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, from 2019 to 2025. In addition to scientific approaches, her lab embraces art as a way to connect ecology to society, and she rarely goes into the field without a journal to sketch what she observes.
Julie Woodward
Deputy Director and Director of Forestry, Oregon Forest Resources Institute
Julie Woodward serves as deputy director and director of forestry at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, where she leads strategic forestry initiatives and serves as the institute’s principal forester. With more than 25 years of experience in Oregon’s forest sector, she is a respected leader in forest education, outreach and applied research analysis.
Throughout her career, Woodward has specialized in communicating complex forestry topics to diverse audiences. She works to strengthen connections among the College of Forestry, the forest sector and communities across Oregon, and has managed numerous statewide projects, including the development of key reports in partnership with Oregon State University.
Woodward holds a Master of Science in natural resources education and extension from Oregon State University, where she also earned dual bachelor’s degrees in forest management and business administration. Her background includes hands-on experience in both public and private forestry, beginning with her family’s forestry business and tree farm in Oregon.
A native Oregonian, Woodward is passionate about connecting people to Oregon’s forests. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the state’s landscapes with her family, including her husband, whom she met at the College of Forestry.