Forestry Professor John Houghton, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, recently received the John W. Macon Award from the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters for his “outstanding contributions to forestry in Wisconsin.”
“The college is very proud of Associate Dean Houghton and his outstanding contributions to the CNR and its students. John’s students are his legacy and will contribute to the improvement and conservation of Wisconsin’s forests for decades to come,” said CNR Dean Christine Thomas. “John’s recognition by his forestry peers is well deserved and a testament to both John’s commitment to teaching and the college.”
A specialist in natural resource economics with an emphasis on the economics of timber management, Houghton has been a member of the CNR faculty since 1983 and associate dean since 2007. His primary teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses in forest management and finance; introduction to fisheries, forestry and wildlife resources; resource economics, natural resource policy and law; natural resource administration; land surveying techniques; techniques in forest management; and a graduate level course in forest management and economics.
Houghton has served as adviser for the UWSP student chapter of the Society of American Foresters for 22 years and taught summer camp courses at the CNR Treehaven field station for 24 straight years, a record unmatched by any other CNR faculty member. He was named Outstanding CNR Faculty four times, and twice received the University Teaching Excellence Award. In 2001 he was named the Vallier Treehaven Chair of Ecology.
He received the Carl Alwin Schenck Award for Education Excellence and the Outstanding Service Award (several times) from the National Society of American Foresters and the Outstanding Involvement Award from the Wisconsin Hunter Education Association. His alma mater, Michigan State University, honored him with the Forestry Alumni Recognition.
Houghton received his bachelor’s and doctorate from Michigan State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. A native of Michigan, he resides in Stevens Point with his wife, Marilyn. They have four children, all of whom graduated from UWSP.
