About
Mission
The mission of the WSU Urban Forest Health Lab is to keep trees and communities healthy through discovery, applied learning, and engagement.
Program Director
Dr. Joey Hulbert
Research Assistant Professor
WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center,
2606 West Pioneer, Puyallup, WA, 98371-4998
Program Advisors
Gary Chastagner
Marianne Elliott
Todd Murray
Field and Laboratory Research Assistants
Zarina Gallardo
Zarina joined our program in Fall 2024 as our newest Scientific Assistant. Zarina graduated from University of California – San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology.
Taylor McNees
Taylor is a PhD student in Plant Pathology department at WSU. Taylor graduated from UW Tacoma in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. Her research focus on understanding the biology of the Sooty Bark Disease pathogen.
Isiah Montejano
Isiah joined the program in Spring 2024 after working with Washington Conservation Corps and Pierce County. In their role as Outreach Coordinator, Isiah helps communicate our research through media and writing as well as promoting our program’s resources and events through tabling, youth education, and our newsletter.
Spencer Sanchez
Spencer joined our program after participating in the 2024 Equitable Urban Forest Internship. His goals are to study wildlife conservation at UW Seattle after getting residency.
Nelson Pham
Nelson joined our program after participating in the 2024 Equitable Urban Forest Internship. Nelson is a current UW Seattle student with an interest in environmental policy and social science. .
Alexia Green
Alexia joined our team after completing the 2025 Equitable Urban Forest Internship. Alexia is currently a student at Highline College with an interest in urban studies.
Andrew Shams
Andrew Shams joined our program after completing a BS in Environmental Sustainability at UW Tacoma.
Laboratory Alumni
Fig Dewitz
Naomi Wurtzel
Noah Willers
Jah’Niya Myers
Internships
Program Funding
Gifts
The Ravenholt Urban Forest Health Lab was established from a generous gift from the Albert Victor Ravenholt Fund. We are extremely grateful for their support of our vision for this program.
If you want to add capacity and student opportunities to our program, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to our Forest Health Watch account at the WSU Foundation.
Grants
Support from the Albert Victor Ravenholt Fund was leveraged to help receive three grants from state and federal funding sources. Please contact us to see a draft or report of the proposal or study.
2024 – 2027
Tacoma Volunteer Tree Inventory Program – Project funded by a Community Assistance Grant provided by the WA DNR Urban and Community Forestry program.
2024 – 2029
Empowering Community College Students to Equitably Enhance Urban Forests – Program funding provided from the Forest Service as part of the unprecedented funding package for urban forestry provided in the Inflation Reduction Act.
2022-2023
Tacoma Sooty Bark Disease Vulnerability Study – Project funded by a Community Assistance Grant provided by the WA DNR Urban and Community Forestry program.