Jennifer Fawcett Honored with NC’s Prescribed Burner of the Year Award 

Jennifer Fawcett, an extension forestry specialist at NC State, was recently named “Prescribed Burner of the Year” by the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council for her service to the council and outstanding support for the continued use of prescribed fire as a land management tool.

In her role at NC State, Fawcett serves as coordinator of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability Prescribed Fire Working Group — an alliance of state and federal agencies that works to increase the use of prescribed burning across the southern United States.

Fawcett also conducts wildland fire education and outreach for landowners, community members, professionals and others. In 2023, for example, she coordinated a 12-day wildland fire operations training course in eastern North Carolina for more than 40 professionals.

Fawcett has co-authored a number of publications aimed at promoting the use of prescribed fire, including “Wildland Fire Programming: A Guide for Extension and Outreach Professionals” in 2020 and “Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region” in 2023.

Before joining NC State in 2013, Fawcett worked as a biological technician for the U.S. Forest Service. She holds the following professional certifications: North Carolina Certified Burner; NWCG Public Information Officer Type 3; NWCG Resource Advisor; and NWCG Wildland Firefighter Type 2.

Fawcett earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science, wildlife conservation and biology from the University of Delaware, followed by a master’s degree in forest resources from Clemson University and a doctoral degree in agriculture education and human sciences from NC State.