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College of Natural Resources
Forestry and Environmental Resources

Natural Resources Professors Named Goodnight Early Career Innovators

December 2, 2024

Justin Whitehill and Kelly Oten, both professors in the College of Natural Resources, have been named to the 2024-25 class of Goodnight Early Career Innovators. They are among 23 other NC State faculty to be awarded the honor.

The Goodnight Early Career Innovators program recognizes and rewards promising NC State early-career faculty whose scholarship is in STEM or STEM education. Selected faculty receive $22,000 ­annually for three years to support their scholarship and research endeavors.

Whitehill, who holds a Ph.D. in plant pathology with a specialization in plant molecular biology and biotechnology from The Ohio State University, joined the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources in 2020. He currently serves as an assistant professor and Extension specialist. 

Through the Christmas Tree Genetics Program, Whitehill and his colleagues support North Carolina’s $300 million Christmas tree industry through the development of “elite” Fraser fir trees with increased resilience to pests, pathogens and climate change.

Since starting at NC State, Whitehill has secured more than $11 million in grants to support his program. He recently developed, wrote and led a nearly $7.5 million grant from the USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative to bring together academics, industry professionals and growers around the country to accelerate the domestication of genetically-improved Christmas tree species.

Whitehill also played a vital role in securing funds to support the construction of a seed processing facility at the Upper Mountain Research Station in Ashe County. The facility, expected to be completed sometime between 2026 and 2028, will process the seeds of genetically-improved Fraser firs for distribution to North Carolina growers.

Oten, who holds a Ph.D. in entomology with a minor in forestry from NC State, joined the Department of Forestry of Environmental Resources in 2020. She currently serves as an assistant professor and Extension specialist.

With more than $3 million in grants to support her work, Oten has made significant strides in forest health research focused on understanding and mitigating the impacts of insects, the leading agents of tree mortality. She has authored papers on the emerald ash borer, elm zigzag sawfly and many other invasive species.

Oten has also developed a number of popular Extension programs during her time at NC State. That includes the NC Bradford Pear Bounty, which has led to the replacement of more than 2,000 Bradford pear trees across the state and reached 1.3 million people through educational posts on social media.

Oten’s dedication to her work has earned her prestigious accolades, including the NC State University Outstanding Extension Award in 2023 and induction into the NC State University Academy of Outstanding Faculty in Extension and Engagement. She was recently named a recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.