Forest ecology professor Thomas Hinckley has been selected as the first recipient of the College of Forest Resources' new David R.M. Scott Endowed Professorship.

Hinckley, who has served as acting dean, departmental chair and director of the Center for Urban Horticulture, has years of experience in the field of ecology.

"Tom has established an international academic career, yet has retained strong links to regional forest and environmental issues," said B. Bruce Bare, dean of the College of Forest Resources.

Hinckley specializes in sustainable management of forest resources and sylviculture, and has been teaching and researching for more than three decades. He was nominated by Bare for the endowment, which is invested and dispersed each academic quarter.

"Tom Hinckley was one of Dave Scott's grad students, he knew Mr. Scott and he teaches in the same subject areas," Bare said. "He really epitomizes everything Dave was about. I thought he was very deserving of the acknowledgement."

The endowment, provided by in part by the Weyerhauser company, is for more than $250,000. The fund is professionally managed and invested, and is typically used for research-related expense, including graduate student compensation.

The fund is in memory of David R.M. Scott, a popular faculty member who taught for more than 30 years in the College of Forest Resources.

"The students loved him," Bare said. "He really committed his life to helping his graduate students, like Hinckley."

Hinckley has a degree in biology from Carleton College and a doctoral degree from UW, as well as an honorary doctoral degree from the Agriculture University of Vienna.

"Tom fits the bill," Bare said of Hinckley. "Dave's widow was very happy when she learned that Tom had been nominated."

[Reach reporter Jeff Tripoli at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]