About 👋

Hi, I’m CJ Reilly. I’m a forest ecologist, certified arborist, natural resource manager, and educator whose work has always been rooted in curiosity—about landscapes, the people who inhabit them, and the relationships that connect the two. I’m fascinated by forests and the stories they hold. From the microbial communities beneath our feet to the changing canopy above, there is always something unfolding if we take the time to look closely. Much of my work focuses on understanding those changes through field research, GIS and remote sensing, long-term ecological monitoring, and restoration—and then finding ways to make what we learn useful to the communities caring for these places. I currently serve as Director of the O’Hara Nature Center and as the Village of Irvington’s arborist and natural resource manager. No two days are quite the same. I might be assessing an old tree, mapping changes in a forest canopy, working on a restoration project, or heading into the woods with students to investigate a question that started with something they noticed along the trail. My path to this work has been equally varied. I studied art and design at the Maryland Institute College of Art, education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and forest ecology and management at Cornell University. Along the way, my Peace Corps service in Nepal and the Philippines taught me perhaps one of the most lasting lessons: understanding a place begins with spending time in it—observing, listening, asking questions, and learning from the people who know it best. Those experiences continue to shape the way I approach my work today. Whether I’m studying a forest, designing a restoration project, creating a map, or teaching outdoors, I’m interested in bringing science, creativity, education, and stewardship together to better understand the landscapes around us—and help care for what comes next. Let’s connect: cjr272@cornell.edu