John Sakulich

Environmental Science Program Director

John Sakulich is a biogeographer and forest ecologist interested in how forests work as ecological systems. His research focuses on what forests have looked like in the past and how they have changed over time. Much of his work uses dendrochronology (the analysis of annual growth rings in trees) to understand the effects of climate, land use, and disturbance on patterns of forest vegetation. His past research has included work on climatic and ecological processes in the forests of Indonesia, eastern North America, the southwestern US, and western Colorado. Current projects involve reconstruction of wildfire patterns and processes in the western United States and the movement of alpine treeline in response to climate change. He believes that involvement in research is one of the most transformative experiences an undergraduate student can have at college, and he strives to include Regis students in his research projects. Dr. Sakulich regularly teaches courses on forest ecology, quantitative ecology, GIS, climate change, geology, and environmental science.