The West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Design is pleased to welcome three new faculty members – Sophan “Steve” Chhin,
Debanjan Das and Christopher Lituma – to its School of Natural Resources and School
of Design and Community Development.
Steve Chhin, assistant professor in forest resources management in the School of
Natural Resources, specializes in quantitative forest management. His research
focuses on the sustainable management of forest resources by utilizing quantitative
tools that lead to a better understanding of how forest management practices and
environmental factors influence above-ground forest productivity and forest regeneration.
Ensuring that forests are resilient to climate change and changes in forest disturbance
agents, including fire, insects and fungal pathogens, is of particular interest
to Chhin.
Prior to his WVU appointment, Chhin taught at Michigan State University. He received
his doctorate degree in forest biology and management from the University of Alberta;
a master’s in ecology from the University of Manitoba; and a bachelor’s in biology
and biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg.
Debanjan Das, assistant professor in fashion, dress and merchandising in the School
of Design and Community Development, specializes in teaching sourcing, supply chain
and fashion retailing. His research program investigates the apparel industry from
the social and economic viewpoint, as well as apparel labor economics, international
trade policies and organizational structure analysis.
Das, whose academic career has remained centered on fashion merchandising and apparel
management, earned a doctorate in human environmental sciences from the University
of Missouri; a master’s in textile and apparel management from the University of
Missouri; and a bachelor’s degree from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.
Christopher Lituma, assistant professor in wildlife and fisheries resources in
the School of Natural Resources, earned a doctorate in natural resources from The
University of Tennessee; a master’s in wildlife and fisheries sciences from Texas
A&M University; and a bachelor’s in biology from Millersville University. His
postdoctoral research focused on impacts of patch-burn grazing management in native
warm-season grass pastures on bird communities and nest success, as well as how
the establishment of switchgrass monocultures can impact avian and pollinator communities.
Lituma teaches vertebrate natural history and ornithology, and will continue to
focus on applied conservation research related to bird populations.
-WVU-
Pictured above, top to bottom: Sophan "Steve" Chhin, Debanjan Das and Christopher
Lituma