People

Project Lead and Student Interns

Dr. Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh	Esmé Damico-Lassman	Elena Finelli
Faculty Project Director Associate Professor, IdLS ISA Certified Arborist ® schmi2ml@jmu.edu	Student Ecology and Envl Biology B.A. (2026) damicoex@dukes.jmu.edu	Student Geography B.S. (2024) finellen@dukes.jmu.edu

Forest Garden Faculty. Educators and experts sharing the Edible Forest Garden with students and other learners.

• Dr. Joseph Harsh, Associate Professor, Biology
• Ali Sloop, Stormwater Coordinator, Facilities Management

Advisory Faculty/Staff. Experts who help shape policies, strategies, and initiatives at the Forest Garden. 

• Dr. Christine-Joy Brodrick Hartman, Executive Director, Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World
• Ali Sloop, Stormwater Coordinator, Facilities Management
• Members of the East Campus Hillside Advisory Committee

Community Partners. The urban forestry and fruit tree cultivation experts. 

• Jeremy Harold, Greenspace Manager, Public Works, City of Harrisonburg
• Mike Hott, Landscape Coordinator, Public Works, City of Harrisonburg; Hott Apiary
• Cornelius Deppe, Silver Run Forest Farm
• Jonathan McRay , Silver Run Forest Farm
• Joe Lehnen, Virginia Dept. of Forestry
• Michael McConkey, Edible Landscaping

Former Students 

• Madeline Bunting, Biology B.S. (2023)
• Lexi Klahn, Biology & Psychology B.S. (2021)