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Chris Sawyer

Chris Sawyer, M.S.

Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources

North Carolina State University

Chris Sawyer
Chris started working on the wildland fire project in Spring 2010 and made field visits with us to Las Vegas, NM, Flagstaff, AZ, and Kernville, CA in 2010. He contributed to logistical support, data collection, recording of survey responses, and data entry/analysis. For his Masters of Natural Resources final project, he used survey data collected by Dr. Steelman’s team from the 2009 Hat Creek Complex Fire. His research examined whether or not characteristics of effective communication took place before and during the fire, and how the information flow could have been improved throughout the process. Chris has a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from Appalachian State University and also earned a separate Masters Degree in International Studies while attending NC State. Chris is now the Associate Director of Program at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. He is using the skills he learned at NC State to provide guidance to 1,100 seasonal staff members and over 23,000 backcountry participants each year. He is also working on several policy projects with the USFS, neighboring land owners, and local municipalities in northern New Mexico.