Jessica Leahy

Leahy is the professor of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in the University of Maine. She was born and raised in Alaska, adjacent to the second largest state park in the United States. As a result, she has always been curious about the connection between humans and forests. She researches environmental attitudes and behaviors towards forests, forestry, and other natural resource management topics using a social psychology and communication approach. She tends to study four populations: outdoor recreationists, forest landowners, natural resource managers, and the “general public.” Her research program encompasses the role of social capital and trust in public involvement, participation, and citizen science; forest landowner decision-making processes; and influence of media and educational campaigns on attitudes and behavior.