Jonah M Fogel

Extension Specialist, Community Viability

PhD, MLA, BS

Education and Degrees

Jonah possesses a BS in Geology from Western Michigan University, a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Policy from the University of Tennessee. Jonah's research interests have centered on the interactions between human decision making and ecological systems. His Ph.D. research investigated the utility of collaboration in managing private forest lands.

Work Experience

As the community viability specialist for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Northeast District, Jonah is helping communities create a vision for their development and build the capacities necessary to carry out their vision. In this work he emphasizes issues related to community planning, capacity building, and economic opportunity development. Jonah often partners with local Extension units, community agencies, and local governments to assess their needs and assist their ongoing efforts. Current work includes community food systems facilitation, and educational programming in land use planning for municipal officials such as planning commissioners, and an interest in planning for workforce housing.

Research

Dr. Fogel has been involved in several projects across the Richmond region involving 'local food'. Grant funding awarded includes USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) funds to help evaluate sustainable community food systems in Virginia and North Carolina.