Photo by Christina VanHorn,
UNH Human Resources

A woman, wearing a hard hat, standing among of a group of loggers and foresters at the edge of a forest in the middle of New Hampshire teaching a class is not a typical image that most people would imagine when thinking of an instructional setting…but when it comes to Karen Bennett, this is more often than not, her preferred classroom location.

Karen Bennett graduated from UNH in 1979 with a B.S. in Forestry and has never left. While studying at UNH, Karen states, "I was exposed to Stan Knowles and Phil Auger, who were the Rockingham County Extension Foresters. I think we visited the Earl Smith woodlot in Newfields, NH and a Christmas tree plantation and I learned what an Extension Forester did. I thought it was a cool job and very worthwhile and I considered it my ideal job."

"My first job out of UNH was doing a forest inventory and management plan for Beaver Brook Association of Hollis NH, a conservation and educational organization owning 1,600 acres (at that time). The County Foresters, Bob Breck and Dave Buxton, needed someone to manage the firewood program in Hillsborough County. They dropped by Beaver Brook and talked with me. At the end of the visit, they offered me the job - I didn't even know I was being interviewed."

Karen started in 1980 working for UNH Cooperative Extension as an Assistant Hillsborough County Forester and then the Hillsborough County Forester, Milford NH. In 1987 Karen changed counties and worked as the Merrimack County Extension Forester in Boscawen, NH. Starting in 1996, Karen became an Extension Professor and Specialist in Forest Resources, covering the state. She currently works with 11 county-based Extension Forestry staff and 2 other statewide specialists and 2 program coordinators to develop and deliver educational materials and events on natural resources topics. Their focus program areas include forest stewardship; urban and community forestry; natural resource conservation education; and rural development. Karen specializes in private forestland management providing education to landowners, land managers, conservation volunteers, and public decision makers with an emphasis on professional development for foresters.

Karen's work/teaching schedule is anything but predictable or boring. In one week she can be in a UNH classroom teaching "Earth as a System for Educators" to UNH graduate students, outdoor educators and middle school teachers in a UNH Durham classroom, then head to the other side of the state the next day - teaching tree farmers about woodlot management, then travel to Hancock NH for 4 days of teaching Silviculture (the art and science of establishing and tending trees and forests) to Coverts volunteers, and finally back to Durham to prepare for another class. It is the ever-changing instructional environments, and the opportunity to reach so many willing learners that Karen loves.

Karen has been to the North Country to participate in a forum regarding the 2007 Farm Bill, participated in Tree Farm Field Day in Exeter NH and has been a contributor to NH Project Learning Tree - an organization that empowers the youth of our state to become well-informed and responsible stewards of our forests and other natural resources. She is a sought after lecturer, works on supporting conservation easements and the 50+ land trusts in New Hampshire and presents workshops for foresters all over the state. Considering there are over 1,600 tree farmers caring for over 800,000 acres of forested land in New Hampshire (more than the White Mountain National Forest), the exceptional passion, teaching and communication skills that Karen Bennett brings to our students and communities will always be in high demand.

Karen truly loves her chosen field and finds it both personally and professionally rewarding. "UNH Cooperative Extension has a learning culture, which is no surprise, since our mission is about helping people lead better lives by bringing the research and the learning of the university to the people of the state. I like to learn. I also like the flexibility and independence in my job. I like our mission and the way we go about our work, which is very personal. We help people. We like to say that we are a phone call away ~ and any time my job brings me to the woods is a good day!"

When asked who or what at UNH has had a positive impact on you and why, Karen replied, "I think your first work experiences can color the direction of your career. It was true for me and I think the entire staff in the Hillsborough County Extension Office had a positive impact on me. Some of them are gone like Charlie Buck, Bob Breck, Harriet Nissen, Alma Sangster, and Ernie George. Most of the rest are retired or have moved on to other things like Dave Buxton, John Ferguson, Perley Colby, Dot Wood, Laurel Dusseault, Honey Leger, Margie White, Margie Rowe and there are others. They were a welcoming group of people, dedicated to helping people. I learned how to do Extension work from them."

Karen's personal interests are an extension of her professional ones. She is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Monadnock Conservancy, a land trust serving communities in the southwest part of the state. Karen, and her husband, Andras Lazar, who is "very supportive of my Extension work" reside in Antrim, NH.