Meet the Faculty - Deb Hilbert

01/14/2026

Dr. Deborah Hilbert’s connection to ESF began long before she joined the faculty, drawn by the college’s deep roots and national reputation in urban forestry. In this video, she shares how stepping into ESF felt like becoming part of a living legacy — one shaped by decades of work in arboriculture and urban forest management. Viewers will get a clear picture of what urban forestry really means: studying and caring for trees where people live, work, and gather, and understanding how trees, cities, and communities shape one another.

From managing entire urban forest systems and partnering with the City of Syracuse on tree plantings, to climbing trees, and pruning Dr. Hilbert’s courses blend practical skills with big-picture thinking. She also highlights research that directly informs real-world practice, including studies on urban tree survival and a national effort to better connect tree growers with urban forest practitioners. Throughout, she celebrates ESF students as curious, practical, and unafraid to ask tough questions — students who care deeply about building healthier, greener cities and are excited to help shape what comes next.