Dr. Erica Smithwick’s research focuses on sustainable land management under climate change, with particular focus on wildfire and natural carbon storage strategies. She is a Distinguished Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University, where she is also an Associate Director of the Institutes of Energy and Environment. She served as a Fulbright Scholar in South Africa and is currently an Administrative Fellow.
Erica is a mom of three children, ages 18, 16, and 9, two dogs, two cats, numerous goldfish (“won” at the local fair), and former nanny to many guinea pigs and hamsters. Erica’s love of science is coupled with a love of travel, and one of Erica’s greatest joys is inspiring that sense of adventure in her kids. When not with them or at the “Smithwick zoo,” she loves trail running with friends (one of whom re-introduced her to a hula hoop) and her pollinator garden.