Keith O'Herrin
Ex Officio

As the Urban Forester for Union County, Keith O’Herrin, Ph.D. serves an ex-officio role on the TreesUnion Board of Directors. He is also on the board of the North Carolina Urban Forest Council, as well as the Urban and Community Forestry Society, a national professional membership organization. He has worked as an urban forester for more than 16 years across five states, holding many different roles in four different local governments.

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In Union County he helps 10 small towns and cities manage their urban forests. He also works with Union County Public Schools to introduce youth to trees and nature as a career path.

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He holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban Forestry from University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. in Urban Forestry from Virginia Tech. He is an ISA Certified Arborist with a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and a North Carolina Registered Forester. O’Herrin’s published research has focused on the urban forestry profession itself, including recruitment, career pathways, and certifications. He was recognized for that 10+ year long research effort with the 2024 L.C. Chadwick Award of Distinction in Arboricultural Research by the International Society of Arboriculture. He has also published several research articles on tree preservation during construction, as well as on how municipalities approach managing their urban forest.