What we do
The Communities, Forests, and Fire Research Group works together to explore how communities experience wildfire and forest management in the U.S. West and beyond. We focus on applying social science research methods to produce robust research and management and policy recommendations.
Research Group Members
Graduate Researchers
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Shannon Courtney, Ph.D. Student, Utah State University
I hold undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Marketing from Trinity University and recently completed a Master of Natural Resources in Fire Ecology and Management at the University of Idaho. My professional background includes nonprofit community outreach and six years of experience as a wildland firefighter. During my fire career, I split time between the Western and Southeastern U.S. and worked at both the federal and municipal government levels on a variety of resource types. I find wildfire social science to be the perfect combination of my academic interests and field experience. At Utah State, I am excited to take a deeper look at community-fire interactions through research focused on communications, operations, and public policy. Shannon's research is funded by the USDA National Needs Fellowship grant program. |
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Maximo Aguilar Lawlor, M.S. Student, Utah State University
Throughout my undergraduate career, I have completed one B.S. in journalism from Emerson College (2022), and one B.S. in meteorology (professional concentration) from Metropolitan State University of Denver (2025). In January of 2026, I started a M.S. in Environment and Society at Utah State University working on post-fire flooding research across Utah and other parts of the western United States. The goal of this research is to learn how communities have been impacted by post-fire flooding and how public policy helped or hindered their recovery. Along with this, another goal is to create framework for policy planning in communities with high risk of post-fire flooding events. Prior to coming to Utah State, I worked as a tennis instructor and was part of the men’s tennis program at both Emerson College and MSU Denver. Maximo’s research is funded by the Joint Fire Science Program and the United States Geological Survey. |
Alumni
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Dr. Cara Caruolo, Ph.D. student, 2022-2026
Cara led numerous interview research projects investigating the intersection of resilience and recovery after wildfire across several western states with a focus on federal assistance. She also built a database of federal wildfire recovery assistance programs. Currently: Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Nevada Reno. Cole Brant, M.S. student, 2024-2026
Cole conducted workshops, focus groups, and a drop-off, pick up survey to better understand communication and uptake of mitigation in the home ignition zone. Currently: Fire Effects and Fuels Monitoring Crew, National Park Service Wills DeGrandpre, M.F. student, 2023-2025
Wills conducted focus groups with Flagstaff residents and professionals about preventing human-caused wildfire ignitions on adjacent public lands as part of a broader Joint Fire Science Program grant. He was a 2024 JFSP Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) award recipient. First position after graduation: Firefighter, Kaibab National Forest Grace Harris, Undergraduate Researcher, 2024
Grace supported survey administration and data entry for several smoke-focused projects. Currently: Masters student at Northern Arizona University Dr. Jack Burnett, Ph.D. Student, 2020-2024
Jack conducted several interconnected studies exploring conceptualizations of collective action to reduce wildfire risk across different scales. He was recognized as both the NAU outstanding Graduate Researcher and School of Forestry Outstanding Graduate Student in 2024. First position after graduation: Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University Sarah Devenport, M.S. Student, 2022-2024
Sarah led a survey and interviews related to human-caused wildfire ignitions in the Southwest to better understand how place-based interventions can support risk reduction. Currently: Research Associate at the Ecological Restoration Institute. Scott Franz, M.S. Student, 2021-2023
Scott conducted a policy analysis and semi-structured interviews related to fires managed for objectives other than full suppression. Scott was a 2023 JFSP Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) award recipient and NAU's 2023 Outstanding Masters-level Graduate Research Assistant. Currently: Research Associate on the ReShape project for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes. Astrid Alder, Interns2Scholars researcher, 2020 - 2021
Astrid reviewed open-ended survey comments to identify themes across residents concerned about fire in Arizona. First position after graduation: MSc student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. |
Amanda Busco, M.S. student, 2024-2026
Amanda explored cascading consequences of wildfire in northern Arizona through interviews about post-fire hazards and surveys about mental health during recovery. Currently: Research Coordinator at Northern Arizona University Helena Moomjian, Interns2Scholars program, 2023-2024
Helena worked as a research assistant who collected data to support an updated annual trail use count for the Red Rock District of the Coconino National Forest. Zoë Zamudio, Undergraduate Researcher, 2022-2024
Zoë supported numerous data collection efforts related to human-caused ignitions, including surveying recreationists across three national forests. Currently: Specialist, Arizona Department of Economic Security Hayden Jorde, M.F. Student, 2021-2023
Hayden produced an updated annual trail use count for the Red Rock District of the Coconino National Forest, supported by the Sedona Red Rock Trail Foundation. Currently: Trails crew lead, Portland Parks and Recreation Noah Haarmann, M.S. Student, 2021-2023
Noah conducted a needs assessment for the Southwest Fire Science Consortium. He was a 2022 JFSP Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) award recipient and a 2023 Presidential Management Fellow. Currently: Smokejumper for the US Forest Service based out of Missoula, MT. Megan King, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2020.
Megan conducted background research into the logging history of northern Arizona. Currently: Forester, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Max Benning, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2020
Max supported interview research related to post-fire flood risk in the Flagstaff area. Currently: Forestry Community Engagement Coordinator for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management McKenna Hedgepeth, M.S. Forestry, 2019 - 2020
McKenna modeled the economic benefits of biomass in the Southwest as a replacement for non-renewable energy. Currently: Staff at the New Mexico Environment Department Air Quality Bureau. Margaret Sichrovsky, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2020-2021
Supported data entry and literature reviews related to wildfire and prescribed fire smoke. Currently: Fire Information Specialist for the US Forest Service on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, ID. |
