Holly Petrillo, Professor of Forestry | University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point
Holly Petrillo, Professor of Forestry | University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point
On any given day, Holly Petrillo, a forestry professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP), might be found in a Wisconsin forest helping students identify tree diseases or in rural Kenya guiding them through lessons on permaculture. This dedication to student learning has earned her the 2025 University Teaching Excellence Award, one of UWSP's highest faculty honors.
Petrillo has been with UWSP for nearly two decades and teaches between 600 and 900 students annually. Her teaching extends beyond traditional classrooms to include tree canopies, insect labs, online platforms, and global communities. Known for her rigorous field-based courses, she helps forestry and natural resource majors learn how to study species independently. Her students engage with diverse subjects such as tree bark, forest pests, climate data, and policy documents.
“Dr. Petrillo is an inspirational leader,” said Alice Maas, a student who has taken several of Petrillo’s courses and served as her teaching assistant. “Her passion for forestry is contagious.”
In 2011, Petrillo founded the Kenya Summer Field Experience program that collaborates with rural Kenyan communities on sustainability studies. Another course she co-developed takes students to northern Wisconsin each fall to connect scientific investigation with cultural insights alongside Ojibwe communities.
Petrillo also launched an online version of NRES 150 in 2016 to expand access for nontraditional learners. The course now enrolls hundreds of students yearly and became a model during the pandemic when UWSP shifted to virtual instruction.
“My passion for teaching has never wavered over the almost 20 years that I have been teaching at UWSP,” Petrillo stated.
Despite large class sizes, Petrillo ensures every student feels seen and challenged. Her inclusive style has shaped numerous careers in forestry.
“Holly is a rare gem among an already outstanding group of educators,” said Melinda Vokoun, a colleague in the forestry faculty.
Whether guiding students through Wisconsin forests or collaborating with Kenyan communities, Petrillo inspires future stewards of the earth globally.
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