Meet AGNITOR Hannah Kosiek
Fun Facts about Hannah
- I didn’t enjoy school until college when I got to focus on subjects I was interested in.
- I got my start in urban agriculture.
- I have been the only woman employee in 2 of my workplaces.
What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
Don’t be afraid to follow what you genuinely enjoy, it is possible to have a career doing what you love.
Hannah’s AFNR Journey
Hannah is an urban forester currently working as the Assistant City Forester of Highland Park. She graduated from DePaul University in 2019 with a BA in Environmental Studies and a minor is GIS. Her career has spanned many fields, from growing food on Chicago rooftops, to leading crews on tree pruning and removals. She has spoken at the Morton arboretum and various local conferences about the importance of urban forestry and the tools available to municipalities to manage their trees. Hannah lives in Chicago and enjoys biking, cooking, and seeing movies in her free time.
What does an Assistant City Forester do?
The position is responsible for managing compliance of the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance. This involves reviewing tree removal permits on public and private property, creating tree protection plans during construction, and overseeing the yearly tree planting program. Education requirements are a bachelors degree in forestry or a related field and must be an ISA Certified Arborist.