Field Inclusive, Inc.

Experience Reflection: Alejandra Betancourt

“None of this would have been possible without the Field Inclusive travel award. For an international student living on a graduate stipend, conferences of this scale are not simply expensive, they are financially out of reach without targeted support. This award recognized not just my research, but the principle that access to professional development should not be determined by economic circumstance. That recognition means more than I can fully express.”

BY ALEJANDRA BETANCOURT

Attending the 2025 Society of American Foresters National Convention in Hartford, Connecticut, was one of the most formative professional experiences of my doctoral journey so far. Themed “From Roots to Canopy: 125 Years of Forestry and Natural Resources,” the convention brought together foresters, researchers, and policymakers from across the country and beyond, a convergence of knowledge and passion for the forests that sustain us all. I am deeply grateful to the Field Inclusive Committee for making my participation possible through this travel award.

My experience include a full-day field tour on October 22nd: A Century of Research on the Dynamics of Native Mixed Hardwood Forests. We traveled north into Connecticut to visit Yale-owned forestlands (Yale-Myers Forest) getting close to the Bigelow Hollow State Park, landscapes that have been observed, studied, and carefully stewarded for over a hundred years. Spending a day immersed in those forests, learning firsthand about the long-term dynamics of native mixed hardwood ecosystems, was a powerful reminder of why longitudinal research matters. It was the kind of learning that only happens when you leave the conference room and let the forest itself become the classroom.

Over the following days, I had the privilege of presenting two research projects: a long- term forest dynamics work in the Yucatan Peninsula and my ongoing urban forestry research in Raleigh. Sharing these findings on an international stage, alongside colleagues whose work spans disciplines and continents, was both humbling and energizing. The questions I received pushed my thinking further, and the conversations that followed each session reminded me of why we do this work, not in isolation, but in community.

I also want to be honest about something that makes support like this feel especially significant: forestry, as a profession, has historically not been the most culturally diverse field. Walking into a convention hall where origin like mine remain underrepresented is a reality I navigate regularly, one that does not diminish my love for the science, but that does require a particular kind of resilience. In spaces like this, visibility matters. When early-career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds are present, contributing, and leading conversations, it quietly expands what others imagine is possible. I carry that responsibility with care, and I carry it with pride.

Equally important in this field is the role of networking, something that can feel inaccessible when financial barriers limit participation. Forestry is a discipline built on relationships: collaborations formed over coffee between sessions, mentors encountered at poster presentations, colleagues who become co-authors across research sites. Being present at the SAF Convention meant being part of those exchanges. I left Hartford with new contacts, shared ideas for future collaborative work, and a strengthened sense of belonging within a scientific community I deeply respect.

None of this would have been possible without the Field Inclusive travel award. For an international student living on a graduate stipend, conferences of this scale are not simply expensive, they are financially out of reach without targeted support. This award recognized not just my research, but the principle that access to professional development should not be determined by economic circumstance. That recognition means more than I can fully express.

I am committed to paying this forward, through mentorship, through inclusive research practice, and through continuing to show up in rooms where my presence might open a door for someone who comes after me. Thank you, Field Inclusive, for opening that door for me.