An Ecologist Is Named the Inaugural Joanna Burger Endowed Legacy Professor

Rutgers professor Brooke Maslo will advance research connecting environmental change, species behavior and ecosystem resilience

Brooke Maslo, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, has been named the inaugural holder of the Joanna Burger Endowed Legacy Professorship.

Maslo's appointment is supported by a gift from Joanna Burger, a Distinguished Professor with appointments in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences, and Michael Gochfeld, professor emeritus in the Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, to establish the professorship in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

"I am beyond honored to be selected as the Inaugural Burger Endowed Legacy Professor," Maslo said. "Dr. Burger was instrumental in shaping my academic career trajectory so many years ago, and through this endeavor, she is continuing to promote both wildlife conservation and women in science. I am truly grateful for her mentorship, as well as Dr. Gochfeld's generosity in supporting this professorship."

In this role, Maslo will continue her research on the complex interactions between environmental change and species' evolutionary, behavioral and physiological characteristics. As an applied ecologist, her work spans coastal ecosystem responses to sea-level rise, wildlife management in the face of emerging infectious diseases and restoration of ecosystem function in vulnerable habitats.

This is the first legacy professorship established within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Legacy professorships, approved by the Rutgers Board of Governors in 2020, enable current, emeritus and retired faculty and their families to create endowed positions that honor their legacy.

Maslo's scholarship integrates applied and basic research.

As an extension specialist, she focuses on connecting research with communities and public agencies. Her work includes scholarship, teaching and service, with projects that link research to public-sector decision-making.

Her applied approach is reflected in projects such as her work with New Jersey communities through the state's Blue Acres program, helping guide the restoration of flood-prone coastal areas by transforming former residential land into natural floodplains that absorb stormwater, reduce future flooding and strengthen long-term resilience.

Maslo will assume the professorship effective Thursday, April 23.