The Whole Forest: A Unified Path for New England’s Landscapes
May. 19, 2026
A guest blog from Yale School of the Environment students
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NEFF Bioeconomy Director Jen Shakun won a well-deserved Young Forester Leadership Award Friday, Oct. 24, from the Society of American Foresters (SAF) at their national convention in Hartford, Connecticut.
“Jen is a creative, strategic, and hard-working leader who builds strong coalitions by prioritizing respect and expertise,” said NEFF Executive Director Ryan Owens. “We’re incredibly lucky to have Jen here at New England Forestry Foundation, and we’re thrilled to see her continue to grow as a leader.”
Jen received her award during the final plenary of the national convention, but what did the rest of the event consist of? The multi-day convention is the largest gathering of foresters in the U.S., and this year it commemorated the 125th birthday of SAF.
“Foresters come together with other natural resource professionals, researchers, and students to learn about new research and cutting-edge tools, to discuss pressing issues, to share best practices in the field of forestry, and to go on educational field trips,” said NEFF Forest Scientist Colleen Ryan. “We also gather to honor foresters who have gone above and beyond in their fields.”
Jen leads NEFF’s work to develop the forest-based bioeconomy in New England, which consists of economic activities that use renewable, well-stewarded biological resources like agricultural crops, forests, and fish to produce goods, energy and services. The bioeconomy is a great fit for lower-carbon, ecologically sound wood sourced from climate-beneficial forestry practices.
According to SAF, the Young Forester Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership by a young forestry professional in the development and promotion of an individual program or project, or for a sustained leadership role benefiting the practice of forestry and SAF.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the Young Forester Leadership Award, which has been given to many remarkable people before me. It’s particularly meaningful to me, as I try to follow the example of the mentors and colleagues I have learned from, especially their ethic of service and giving back, whether that is volunteering with SAF or participating in local civic organizations,” said Jen. “I hope I can continue to be an ambassador for forestry to people outside our profession who share our love of forests, but who may not always understand the value of forest stewardship and the positive ways we can use the renewable materials they provide.”
The annual award is presented at the SAF national convention and includes an honorarium of $500, complimentary convention registration, and up to $500 to cover travel expenses.
Jen took a key step on the path to her current position at NEFF — and to winning this award — when she simultaneously earned dual degrees and a Certificate at Duke University in 2010: Master of Forestry (SAF accredited), Master of Environmental Management, and Certificate in Geospatial Analysis. She hasn’t slowed down since.
Jen moved on in 2011 to Innovative Natural Resource Solutions, LLC, where she worked for four years and developed skills that have proven invaluable to her time at NEFF; she was next an Applied Forest Scientist at Manomet Conservation Sciences, where she worked with large forest landowners on climate adaptation for five years; and then… off to NEFF in 2019!
Jen looks forward to continuing to work closely with colleagues at NEFF and collaborating with partners across the region to expand the impact of her program and help address some of the key issues facing working forests.
In the coming weeks, stay tuned for more 2025 SAF Convention coverage from NEFF as we reflect on our experiences.
