Dahle receives two arboricultural education awards

Greg Dahle, professor of urban forestry in the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was recently honored with back-to-back arboricultural education awards from two leading professional organizations in his field.

At the International Society of Arboriculture annual meeting in August, Dahle was recognized with this year’s Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Arboricultural Education.

This award recognizes a member of the ISA who understands the important role that education plays in enhancing the quality and professionalism of the arboriculture industry.

In September, Dahle received the Education Award from the Utility Arborist Association. This award recognizes an individual who has added to the knowledge and practices of the utility arborist.

“To be nominated for not only one but two teaching awards is so special to me,” Dahle said. “Introducing students to forestry and helping them prepare for and advance their careers is so meaningful, and I’m grateful to be recognized for those efforts.”

For more than 15 years, Dahle has been a dedicated educator, leading courses such as urban tree care, sustainable urban forestry and sustainable living. In addition to his teaching and research work at WVU, Dahle has taught high-achieving high school students at the West Virginia Governor’s Honors Academy as well as arborists and urban foresters through practitioner education courses.

Dahle is deeply committed to helping students at every level learn more about arboriculture. His students consistently note that his lectures balance in‑depth material on tree growth and development with the practical application of managing landscape trees.

“Dr. Dahle is an outstanding professor who is well respected and admired by both his students and his colleagues,” Amy Welsh, director of the Davis College’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, said. “I am very proud to be able to work with Greg and am so pleased that he was honored with these prestigious recognitions. Both are very well deserved.”

Dahle notes that the recognition from the ISA is particularly meaningful given award namesake Alex L. Shigo’s connection to WVU. Shigo was a WVU alumnus, earning his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University in 1960. He went on to become a renowned tree pathologist with the USDA Forest Service and served as its chief scientist for 25 years.

Before entering academia, Dahle worked as an urban forester in California, collaborating with municipal, commercial, and utility clients to develop and implement short‑ and long‑term urban forest management plans. He is an ISA Board‑Certified Master Arborist and a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor.

-WVU-

hb/09/23/26

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