CURICULUM VITAE
Research Statement
I am a social scientist interested in natural resources issues as seen through the lens of public policy, policy implementation and public finance. My work has investigated questions regarding the impact of public lands on local governments, how street-level bureaucrats in the US Forest Service engage in institutional change, and the impact of novel governance regimes on Forest Service performance metrics.
Skills
Education
PhD, Natural Resources Policy & Administration (2023)
University of Idaho
Dissertation Title: Investigating the Mechanisms and Drivers of Change in the Governance of National Forests: Agents and Action in the US Forest Service​
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MS, Forestry (2015)
University of Montana
Thesis Title: Capturing the benefits of restoration: local business utilization and opportunities for growth in Northwestern Montana​
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BA, Rural & Environmental Sociology (2006)
University of Montana
R
NVivo
ArcGIS
SPSS
Data visualization
Science communication
Professional
Experience
Associate Director, Policy Analysis Group
Assistant Research Professor, Natural Resources Policy, 2023-present
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
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Owner and Social Scientist, 2022 - present
Inland Empire Consulting, LLC
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Research Social Scientist, 2020 - 2022
Research Assistant/Associate, 2011-2018
Forest Industry Research Program
Bureau of Business and Economic Research
University of Montana, Missoula, MT
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Lecturer, 2020, 2021
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
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Research Analyst, 2017 - 2020
Policy Analysis Group
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
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Research Assistant/Associate, 2011-2018
Forest Industry Research Program
Bureau of Business and Economic Research
University of Montana, Missoula, MT
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Program Associate, 2006-2011
Conservation Programs
National Forest Foundation, Missoula, MT
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Publications
Publications in Refereed Journals
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Pennick McIver, Chelsea, Philip S. Cook and Dennis R. Becker. 2021. "The Fiscal Burden of Wildfires: State expenditures and funding mechanisms for wildfire suppression in the western U.S. and implications for federal policy." State and Local Government Review 53(4): 337-351: https://doi.org/10.1177/0160323X211061353.
*Selected as Best Field Note in State and Local Government Review for 2021.
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Pennick McIver, Chelsea and Dennis R. Becker. 2021. "An empirical evaluation of the impact of collaboration on the pace and scale of national forest management in Idaho." Forest Science 67(1): 49-59.
https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxaa040
McIver, Chelsea P.; Metcalf, Alexander L.; Berg, Erik C. 2018. "Procurement Contracting and Forest Communities: Factors affecting local business utilization in the inland northwest." Journal of Forestry 116(5):412-419. https://doi.org/10.1093/jofore/fvy033
Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E., III; Morgan, Todd A.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Niccolucci, Michael J. 2016. "Employment and Wage Impacts of Timber Harvesting and Processing in the United States." Journal of Forestry 113(4). https://doi.org/10.5849/jof.14-082
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Peer-reviewed Technical Publications
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Marcille, Kate C.; Morgan, Todd A.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Christensen, Glenn A. 2020. California’s forest products industry and timber harvest, 2016. Gen. Tech Rep. PNW-GTR-994. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 58 p.
Kelly, Erin Clover; McIver, Chelsea P.; Standiford, Richard B.; Haggerty, Mark. 2017. Socioeconomics of the Redwood Region. In Proceedings of the Coast Redwood Science Symposium-2016. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-258. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 345-356.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Metcalf, Alexander; Dodson, Elizabeth. 2016. Making Every Dollar Count: Leveraging federal investments in land management to benefit local communities. Rural Connections 10(2).
McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E.; Morgan, Todd A.; Menlove, Jim. 2013. Montana’s forest products industry and timber harvest, 2009. Resour. Bull. RMRS-RB-16. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 42 p.
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Other Publications
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McIver, Chelsea P.; Hogg, Jace; Becker, Dennis R.; Cook, Philip S. 2020. The Impact of Collaboration on the Pace and Scale of Restoration in Idaho. PAG Report No. 41. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Policy Analysis Group. 12 p.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Meyer, Karl; Becker, Dennis R.; Cook, Philip S. 2019. Analysis of a single payment program for public lands counties in Idaho: Scenarios and Implications. PAG Report No. 40. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Policy Analysis Group. 78 p.
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McIver, Chelsea P.; Marcille, Kate. “White Paper: Characterizing Federal Timber Flow and Utilization for Input-Output Modeling by the US Forest Service.” Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 2017. Electronic.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2016. Measuring the Benefits of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program for Local Communities in Northeast Washington. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 26 p.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2016. Are Forest Restoration Investments Benefiting Local Communities Most in Need? Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 1 p.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2013. An Assessment of Local Contractor Participation in the Southwestern Crown of the Continent CFLRP Project. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 32 p.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E. III: Morgan, Todd A. 2013. Timber Use, Processing Capacity, and Capability to Utilize Small-Diameter Timber Within USDA Forest Service Region One Timber-Processing Area. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 21 p.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E.; Gale, Charles B.; Morgan, Todd A. 2012. Capacity and Capability of Mills in the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests Timber Processing Area. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 9 p.
Sorenson, Colin B.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Keegan, Charles E.; Morgan, Todd A. 2012. Capacity and Capability of Mills in the Flathead National Forest Timber-Processing Area. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 10 p.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E.; Gale, Charles B.; Morgan, Todd A. 2012. Capacity and Capability of Mills in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Impact Zone. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 10 p.
Sorenson, Colin B.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Keegan, Charles E.; Gale, Charles B.; Morgan, Todd A. 2012. Capacity and Capability of Mills in the Kootenai National Forest Impact Zone. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 9 p.
McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles B.; Morgan, Todd A. 2012. Capacity and Capability of Mills in the Lolo National Forest Timber-Processing Area. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 10 p.
Morgan, Todd A.; McIver, Chelsea P.; Sorenson, Colin B.; Keegan, Charles E. III; Hayes, Steven W. 2011. Montana’s Forest Economy: A roller coaster ride through the first decade of the 21st century. Montana Business Quarterly Winter 2011: 2-7.
Presentations
Academic Presentations
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McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. “Can Evidence of a Public Lands Burden Be Found?” Western Forest Economists Annual Meeting. Olympia, WA, June 4, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2016. “CFLRP and the Mediating Influence of Federal Contract Regulations on Benefit to Local Communities.” SAF National Convention. Madison, WI, November 4, 2016.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2015. “A Comparison of Open and Set-Aside Procurement Contracts on Local Benefit to Forest-Dependent Communities.” Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Madison, WI, August 8, 2015.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2014. “Who Gets the Work? Measuring the Benefits of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program in Western Montana.” Western Forest Economists Meeting. Missoula, MT. May 20, 2014.
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Organized Sessions
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“Institutional work in federal lands governance: local perspectives from the Western US.” International Association for Society and Natural Resources Conference, Virtual, June 2021. Co-convenor: Katherine Wollstein.
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Invited Presentations
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McIver, Chelsea P., Dennis R. Becker. 2020. “Collaboration in the Intermountain West: Impacts on pace, scale and agency decision-making.” Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership Meeting. Virtual. April 15, 2020.
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McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. “County Payments: Past, Present and Future.” Public Lands Committee of the Idaho Association of Counties. Boise, ID, September 25, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. “Collaboration in the Intermountain West: A project to understand how collaboration is impacting the pace and scale of restoration.” Ecosystem Management and Coordination, Washington Office, US Forest Service. Virtual, August 30, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. “Building Wealth in Rural Communities: county payments and beyond.” Mineral County Resource Coalition, Superior, MT, May 8, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. Understanding County Payments: A Case Study. Montana Forest Counties Summit. Missoula, MT, May 1-2, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2018. Building Wealth in Rural Communities. Panel on Honing Your Collaboration Skills, Regional Forest Restoration Workshop. Coeur d’Alene, ID, March 20-21, 2018.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2016. The Impact of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program on Communities in Northeast Washington. Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition Joint Meeting with Colville National Forest. Colville, WA March 17, 2016.
McIver, Chelsea P. 2014. Monitoring Stewardship Contracts. Panel on Landscape Stewardship. SmallWood Conference, Rochester, MN June 4-5, 2014.
Teaching
FOR 484 Forest Policy & Administration, 2020
University of Idaho
Hyflex format. Enrollment: 48. Required for Forestry majors.​
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FOR 484 Forest Policy & Administration, 2021
University of Idaho
Hybrid format. Enrollment: 47. Required for Forestry majors.
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Service
Associate Editor,
Society & Natural Resources
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Secretary and Media Coordinator,
ASPA Section on Environmental and Natural Resources Administration
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Leadership Team,
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition
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Reviewer
Journal of Forestry, Forest Science, Climatic Change
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Professional Memberships
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) (current)
Public Management Research Association (current)
Society of American Foresters (current)
International Association for Society and Natural Resources (current)
Western Forest Economists (former)
Rural Sociological Society (former)
Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (former)
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Media
Cohen, Rachel. "Study: Western state budgets hit hard from wildfire costs." December 17, 2021. Idaho State Public Radio
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Herring, Hal. "The Changing Politics of Woods Work: cash-strapped agencies use private contractors to the detriment of local communities." October 30, 2017. High Country News
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