FORKS, WA. – Peninsula College’s Natural Resources program will now feature a lead faculty member with extensive ecology, biology, geology and marine biology education and experience. Chris Morgan of Port Angeles has worked in science education for the Elwha Science Education program, Port Angeles High School and NatureBridge, and has worked in the field as well. Most recently he worked as a college success coach to support students transitioning from Port Angeles High School to Peninsula College.

“We are so fortunate to have Chris lead our new Natural Resources program at our Forks campus,” said PC President Dr. Suzy Ames. “He brings a terrific combination of skills teaching science doing hands-on environmental science work and supporting students to reach their educational goals.”

Classes start Sept. 28. Students will start off the new program taking Introduction to Natural Resources, Ecosystems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Classes will be held Monday through Thursday during the daytime. Each class will have the ability for students to tune in remotely or attend in person at the Forks campus.

The Peninsula College Foundation is offering a $1,000 scholarship to every student who enrolls Fall Quarter.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work as our campus’s natural resource instructor,” Morgan said. “It is a perfect blend of many of my passions including teaching, working with our local students, field-based environmental sciences, and facilitating an informed and intentional relationship with our natural resources. I can’t wait to get started working with our amazing students. I feel like my experiences going all the way back to college have prepared me well for this next step. It is a really rare opportunity to be able to start a program from scratch.”

The college has worked over the past year with industry representatives to design the curriculum to meet the needs of the region’s workforce in forestry and fisheries.

“Chris is just the type of person we hoped to have found to lead the new Natural Resources program,” said Dr. Mia Boster, dean of workforce education. “We’ve worked so hard to bring this program to fruition; it’s great to know it will be in capable hands to support students.”

New students can get more information about the new Natural Resources classes by calling 360-417-6340 or https://pencol.edu/admissions