SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) stands as a unique public university dedicated to understanding and improving our natural world. With a proud motto to "Improve Your World," ESF prepares its 2,227 students to tackle pressing environmental challenges through rigorous study and hands-on experience. It's a place where passion for nature meets cutting-edge research, all focused on creating a sustainable future.

ESF's roots trace back to July 28, 1911, when it was established as the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. This wasn't a casual endeavor; it followed the state's prior defunding of a similar program at Cornell, highlighting a clear state commitment to forestry education. Visionaries like Louis Marshall, a key figure in establishing New York's Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves, championed its creation, serving as the college's first board president. By 1913, it had solidified its independence, becoming a separate legal entity.

Under the leadership of its first dean, botanist William L. Bray – an associate of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service – ESF quickly began shaping the field. Bray's influence extended to co-founding the Ecological Society of America in 1915, underscoring the college's early commitment to ecological science. From its inaugural class of 52 students, with 11 graduating just two years later in 1913, ESF has been a pioneer, commencing vital research into New York's lumber industry as early as 1912. Students at ESF join a vibrant community dedicated to a shared mission of environmental stewardship and scientific discovery.