Interim department head and associate professor Dr. Troy Ocheltree is a plant ecophysiologist in the Forest of Rangeland Stewardship department in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Learn more about him and his leadership philosophy in the Q&A below.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself!
I grew up in southern Michigan and was lucky enough to spend my childhood exploring the eastern deciduous forests of the upper midwest. I originally was headed toward a career in sports medicine, but when I took a plant biology course during my undergrad I was ‘hooked’ on learning more about how these sessile organisms were able to adapt and acclimate to such a wide range of environmental conditions. Now, I get to tinker with and build gadgets that measure plants in new ways and understand how they survive the harsh conditions of Colorado.
Q: What brought you to Forest and Rangeland Stewardship and CSU?
There aren’t many positions for plant ecophysiologists in academia, especially jobs that are focused on grasses, which is the type of plant on which most of my research is focused. The forest and rangeland stewardship department at CSU was really interested in having someone focus on grass ecophysiology, which was a rare opportunity. Beyond that, I was very familiar with the great ecology and natural resource researchers at CSU and I was excited to be part of that community– and near so many outdoor activities in Fort Collins.
Q: Do you have a philosophy for leading as the interim department head?
As the interim department head, I’ll only serve in this position for about a year. Because of that, my philosophy this year is to minimize the impact of the department head transition on the department and allow all the other faculty and staff to continue doing the great work they are doing.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about CSU?
My favorite thing about CSU is that there are so many amazing people working and going to school here. The majority of people are so down to earth, which makes it a great place to work.
Q: Do you have a hobby/fun fact about yourself?
Fun Fact: I broke my hip in 2nd grade when I fell out of a moving car
Hobby: Trying to avoid major injuries while mountain biking
Don’t hesitate to say hello to Troy when you see him!