The faculty and administration of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources is pleased to announce that Michael B. Kane, Ph.D. has accepted an offer to fill the Professor of Quantitative Silviculture position and serve as the new Director of the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC). These positions became vacant after Dr. Barry Shiver retired in 2005.

Dr. Kane comes to the Warnell School from International Paper where he spent the past seven years as a Manager of Silvicultural Research and Technology Transfer. Before that he worked for Union Camp Corp., Zobel Forestry Associates, plus for additional organizations across Latin America.

Dr. Kane received his MS and PhD in Forestry and Soil Science from North Carolina State University after achieving a BS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. In 2002, he completed the six-week executive program at Louisiana State University’s Ourso College of Business. He has published in four separate professional journals and released more than 20 technical publications.

Professional organizations that Dr. Kane is a member of include SAF, Soil Science Society of America, and the International Society of Tropical Foresters. He has also received membership into Xi Sigma Pi (University of Michigan chapter), Gamma Sigma Delta and Sigma Xi (both at NC State). The international forestry experience Dr. Kane has received over the years also helped him become fluent in the Spanish language.

“I am very excited about the prospect of teaching students of the caliber found at the Warnell School,” Dr. Kane explained. “One of my priorities is to develop new opportunities for collaboration between Warnell School faculty and the PMRC.”

“We are very pleased Dr. Kane has agreed to join the faculty here at the Warnell School,” said Dean Richard Porterfield. “His experience managing silviculture research for International Paper will be a tremendous asset to our students in the classroom and in the forest.”

“Michael has the talent and capability to address the changing environment of forest land ownership across the southeastern United States and ensure the Warnell School continues as a leader within the professional forestry community," he concluded.