National Association of University Forest Resources Programs
The National Association of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) will present the first annual Dr. Yeon-Su Kim Champion Award at the 2026 NAUFRP Annual meeting in Tacoma, Washington, October 6, 2026, in association with the 2026 Society of American Foresters national convention.
The award embodies the spirit of Dr. Yeon-Su Kim and other champions of access and engagement who have made lasting, significant impacts in forestry and natural resources education.
Please see below for information on the award, application process, and requirements. The deadline for receiving all application materials is June 15, 2026.
AWARD DESCRIPTION
This Award is to honor an individual, a program, or an organization that has demonstrated sustained dedication to promote engagement, a sense of belonging, and achievement in broader access at the NAUFRP member organizations and beyond.
AWARD CRITERIA
The Award is intended to recognize sustained impact and leadership towards promoting engagement, a sense of belonging, and achievement in broader access to forestry and natural resources.
Examples of efforts that merit nomination of this award:
- Developing effective partnerships to jointly implement related efforts.
- Organizing impactful and supportive training and events.
- Helping others to navigate in ever evolving and sometimes challenging spaces.
- Facing adverse situations with equanimity and displaying resilience in trying times.
- Integrating different perspectives and transforming conflict into collaboration and cooperation to work towards a common goal.
- Motivating others and leveraging differences to promote innovation.
- Working tirelessly to create a safe and unbiased working environment.
- Modeling state-of-the-art recruiting, mentoring, and support of access to enhance engagement and a sense of belonging.
- Translating a vision of access and engagement into achievable milestones and communicating them effectively.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
Individuals or organizations that are affiliated with a NAUFRP institution. Self-nominations are accepted.
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS
Nominations must include:
- a cover letter describing how the nominee has addressed the award criteria
- an additional letter of support for the nomination
- supporting documentation demonstrating the impact of the efforts.
A committee composed of four members will evaluate the nominations and select a winner.
SUBMISSIONS
All nominations should be submitted via email to naufrp@verizon.net. Attach materials to the email or provide arrangements for document sharing. If document sharing is required, the applicant must arrange a document sharing platform that can be accessed by NAUFRP staff and those appointed to evaluate the nominations.
The deadline for receiving all application materials is June 15, 2026.
AWARD PRESENTATION
The award will be presented to the awardee (or a representative of a program or organization) at the NAUFRP General Assembly on October 6, 2026, in person or virtually.
The award includes an award plaque, $1,000 cash prize, plus travel support for the awardee to attend the NAUFRP General Assembly.
In Memoriam of Yeon-Su Kim
Yeon-Su Kim was the Executive Director of the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and a valuable member of the NAUFRP Executive Committee when she passed away tragically in November 2022. Yeon-Su was a social scientist who studied how ecosystem services that forests provide could be valued in economic terms. Growing up in Seoul, South Korea, she learned to communicate values of forest conservation to people with different perspectives. Yeon-Su earned a Ph.D. in Forest Resources from Oregon State University and began her academic career at NAU in 1998, where she promoted access and engagement in forestry education. As Executive Director, she recognized the value of different backgrounds, identities, and experiences in the faculty and students whom she oversaw and what they could bring to forestry and natural resource education and future workforce.
