Rhett Johnson, former director of Auburn University’s Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, giving virtual talk June 24

Auburn University will host a virtual talk with Rhett Johnson, director emeritus of the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center and current board member of the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation, on June 24 as part of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Johnson is the fourth speaker in the virtual “7 for 75 Speaker Series” during the yearlong celebration, which began March 1. He will discuss the development and use of the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center in Andalusia, Alabama, as well as his history and relationship with the Dixon family.

In addition to his former role as director, Johnson is co-founder of The Longleaf Alliance and has served as its president and board member. He has also served as chair of the Southeastern Society of American Foresters and president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in wildlife biology and a master’s degree in forest management from Clemson University. His professional interests and expertise include threatened and endangered species, multiple-use forest management, wildlife management, fire ecology and longleaf pine management and restoration.

“Rhett’s vast knowledge of forest management, leadership expertise and close ties to the Dixon family and the Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation were pivotal in shaping the 5,300-acre Dixon Center to be a top field facility in the nation,” said Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.

“As its first director, he has the unique ability to share a firsthand account of how the Dixon Center has evolved over the past 40 years to fully represent the aspirations of its benefactors, Solon and Martha Dixon.”

The event is open to the public via Zoom from 2-3 p.m. CDT at https://auburn.zoom.us/j/84937018325 and will be live-streamed via the school’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ausfws/live/.

The “7 for 75 Speaker Series” features distinguished alumni and industry leaders representing an array of forestry, wildlife and natural resource fields and enterprises who will cover a wide range of topics, from land management to current and future technology to stakeholder engagement.

The next speaker in the series will be John Burrell, president and CEO of High Adventure Company and High Adventure Safaris. He will talk about his career and the outdoor enterprise industry, as well as his role in assisting with the creation of the school’s new wildlife enterprise management major. His talk is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. CDT Sept. 23.