Appalachian Lab Monthly Newsletter
August 2025
You are receiving this month’s newsletter through a new platform – the new MyAL site developed on the UMCES SharePoint intranet. With the goal of making the information you need easier to find, we have been working over the past few months migrating content from the MyAL page on the UMCES website and from the AL Research Support Website so that it’s now all in one location. We invite everyone to take a moment to check out the new MyAL at https://umces.sharepoint.com/sites/MyAL.
Members of the DEI group have developed a Community Resources page to help with the transition to AL and Frostburg. It would be especially great to share with incoming students and postdocs.
If you have any suggestions for information or content you’d like to see on the site, please reach out to Katie. Feedback is always welcome. We hope that this will become a page that you visit regularly.
New Faces
Liz Brewer
I will be a Master’s student working with Emily Cohen and Cat Davis on engaging natural resource practitioners and community members in the planning of dynamic forest restoration blocks that integrate stopover habitat features for migratory birds. I will also continue to work for the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture, with whom this research will be co-produced. I have a B.S. in Forestry and my professional focus has been on outreach and engagement with forest landowners in Appalachia. I look forward to growing my social science knowledge during my time with UMCES!
Recent Achievements/Activities/Successes
Congratulations
Pollinator Planting
There’s another pollinator garden planting event scheduled for September 3rd at 8:30 AM. It’s Dave’s birthday, so stop down and celebrate with him by planting some new pollinator-friendly plants.
Farewell
We want to wish a fond farewell to our Summer 2025 undergraduate interns. They gave their amazing presentations earlier this month and we wish them luck in their next steps.
Altoona Curve
A group from the lab recently attended an Altoona Curve game. Here are some photos:
Outreach Updates
Watershed Moments:
We’ll be hosting two Watershed Moments events this fall. The first, a follow up to our Garrett County lightning talk event in September 2024, will feature Andrew Heyes and Ryan Woodland from CBL and Jeff Cornwell from HPL and their work in local reservoirs. The event will be held on Thursday, September 18, at 6:30pm in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Garrett College. To assist us in planning, we’re asking folks to rsvp at www.umces.edu/watershed-moments.
Our second event will be held on Thursday, November 6, at AL and will feature Tom Horton from the Bay Journal. The topic and other details are being worked out now and will be shared soon. Tom is also interested in meeting with AL folks to discuss possible story ideas for the Journal. More information and meeting scheduling sheet will be shared closer to the date.
Reminder:
The Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award ceremony and reception for 2025 winner Matt Kline will be held next Thursday, August 28, at 7pm, at AL. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP here.
DEI Updates
The next DEI meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 28th at 2 pm in the Blue Room. All are welcome to join us.
Spotlight on Safety - Fire Extinguisher Use
We held our annual fire extinguisher training in August and wanted to take the opportunity to share some tips and reminders about fire extinguisher use.
First and foremost, if you don’t know how to use an extinguisher or don’t feel comfortable doing so, don’t feel pressured to do so. If you encounter a fire and don’t feel safe using an extinguisher, immediately pull the closest fire alarm and exit the building from the closest, safest exit.
If you encounter a fire and it’s safe to do so, remember the acronym P.A.S.S. to help remember the steps to extinguish the fire:
Resource Review
GuidanceResources is available to USM employees who need no-cost, confidential assistance with life’s challenges, including emotional support, legal guidance, work-life balance solutions, or general online support. Learn more at their website, on their app (GuidanceNow), or by calling 855-410-7628.
Be sure to use the USM Web ID: USMEAP.
Available services include:
Emotional support from anxiety, depression, stress, grief, loss, and life adjustments.
Assistance finding child and elder care.
Legal guidance for divorce, adoption, wills, trusts, and more.
Financial experts to consult for retirement planning or taxes or assistance with budgeting, debt, bankruptcy, and more.
24/7 online information, tools, and support.
Mark Your Calendars
- August 28th @ 7 PM – Richard Johnson Environmental Education Award Ceremony
- September 5th @ 3:30 PM – TGIF
- September 18th @ 6 PM – AL Watershed Moment Event at Garrett College
- September 19th @ 11 AM – AL Seminar Series – Dr. Krista Kraskura, Towson University
- October 9th – UMCES Centennial Event at Baltimore Museum of Industry
- October 24-25th – MEES Colloquium
- November 6th @ 6 PM – AL Watershed Moment Event
Quick Links
Do you have something you’d like to share with the AL community? Please submit any announcements and updates to Katie Kline or Heather Johnson.
