Jan Thompson

Jan Thompson
Associate Professor
Natural Resource Ecology and Management
339 Science II
515-294-0024

Education
Ph.D. Forestry (Forest Biology-Wood Science), Iowa State University, 1991
M.S. Agronomy (Soil Morphology and Genesis), Iowa State University, 1984
B.S. Forestry (Soils), Michigan Technological University, 1981

Teaching Responsibilities
FOR 201 - Forest Biology
FOR 205 - Integrated Forestry Laboratory
FOR 206 - Forestry Field Camp
FOR 475 - Community Tree Management
FOR 476 - Urban Forest Res. Planning & Policy
FOR 590 - Urban Forestry Research Seminar
NREM 112/114 - Leadership in Learning

Research Interests
My research focuses on integration of social and biophysical dynamics of land development in peri-urban landscapes, functional ecology of remnant natural landscape communities in urban and rural settings, and formulation of stewardship practices applicable to urban and urbanizing environments. I am also active in conducting research on teaching and learning in college classrooms, focusing on collaborative learning and professional development.

Selected Recent Publications
Mabry, C., M. Gerken, and J. Thompson.  2007.  Seasonal storage of nutrients by perennial herbaceous species in undisturbed versus disturbed deciduous hardwood forests.   Applied Vegetation Science (in press).

Cleveland, L.V., and J.R. Thompson.  2007.  Extension education and volunteer service:  Assessing motivation and action.  Jour. of Extension  [On-line], 45(1).  Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2007february/rb1.shtml.

Thompson, J., W. Elmendorf, M. McDonough, and L. Burban. 2005. Participation and conflict: Lessons learned from community forestry. Jour. of Forestry 103(4): 174-178.

Widrlechner, M.P., J.R. Thompson, J.K. Iles, and P.M. Dixon. 2004. Models for predicting the risk of naturalization of non-native woody plants in Iowa. Jour. of Environ. Hort. 22(1):23-31.

Thompson, J.R., D.J. Nowak, D.E. Crane, and J.A. Hunkins. 2004. Iowa, U.S. communities benefit from a tree-planting program: Characteristics of recently planted trees. Journal of Arboriculture 30(1): 1-10.

Thompson, J., J. Colletti, S. Jungst, and B. Licklider. 2003. Preparing tomorrow's foresters: Embedding professional interactive skills in a technical discipline. Jour. of Forestry 101(7): 8-13.

Thompson, J., B. Licklider, and S. Jungst. 2003. Learner-centered teaching: Postsecondary strategies that promote "Thinking like a professional". Theory Into Practice 42:133-141.