Husband and wife Varrons, Kathryn Araño (Eureka ’93) and Rico Gazal (Admirable Sixers ’88), are living in West Virginia, USA. Both graduated from the College of Forestry at UP Los Baños, Kath as magna cum laude and Rico as cum laude. Kath is now an Assistant Professor at West Virginia University while Rico is an Assistant Professor at Glenville State College.
Rico & Kathy
When did you enter the UPVL? Why was your batch named Eureka?
I became a member of the organization in 1993. Our batch name “Eureka” is a famous Greek word, which translates to “I found it”. This phrase reflects what we felt as a batch…that we’ve found the right organization to be part of.
Your father (Roberto “Bert” Araño, Magnificent Seven ’67) is also a graduate of UPLB College of Forestry. How influential was he in your decision to pursue a career in forestry?
My dad has been one of the most influential people in my life. I always look up to him when I make important decisions. He wanted one of his daughters to follow in his footsteps. I guess I took it upon myself to be that daughter.
How influential was your father in your decision to join the UP Varrons?
Rico (holding daughter Kira Nicole) and Kathy are joined by (from left) Ramon 'Mon' Razal (Skylove '73), Fe Celeste Bayta-Blanche (Dirty Dozen '67), Nattie del Mundo-Sarigumba (Fantastic Five 2005), Terencio 'Terry' Sarigumba (Magnificent Seven '67), and Catalino 'Lino' Blanche (21st BCT '67; sitting). Photo taken in August 2007 at the Gazal's residence in Morgantown, West Virginia.
I grew up hearing a lot about Varrons from my Dad. Many of the titos and titas (not necessarily my blood relatives) that I grew up knowing were his vrods and sisses from Varrons. There was really no pressure from him for me to join the organization. It was a personal decision. Who wouldn’t be encouraged to join the organization when you hear so many great things about it directly from him.
What incident/event in the UP Varrons do you consider most memorable as an undergrad/as alumnus?
I would have to say my initiation to the organization.
Where did you conduct your postdoc research? How did it help you prepare for a faculty appointment?
I held a postdoctoral research position at Mississippi State University. It was short-lived though because I got accepted as an Assistant Professor of Forest Economics at West Virginia University. Although I only stayed in the position for less than a year, it was very instrumental in preparing me to be competitive for an academic position in the job market that time. I was able to publish articles in refereed journals and also got the opportunity to teach the undergraduate level forest economics class. The latter was not really part of my job description but I was asked by the department head to do it since no faculty was available to handle the course. I gladly accepted the additional work even without additional compensation because I looked at it as an opportunity to further my academic training. Looking back, I am glad I did it because it really helped prepare for my position right now.
How effective/useful are the lessons/background you obtained from UPLB in preparing you for the academic position you currently hold at West Virginia University?
UPLB did a good job in preparing me for graduate school here in the US, which eventually led me to my academic position here at WVU. I consider my BS and MS curricula back in UPLB excellent especially the statistics, mathematics, and economics classes that I have taken. These classes provided me the much needed background to survive graduate school here. Prior to coming here to the US, I also taught a number of classes back in UPLB, from 1995 to 1999. I did learn a lot after 4 years of teaching. My teaching experience from UPLB came really handy when I started to teach at Mississippi State University and now here at WVU.
What courses are you currently teaching?
I am currently teaching 3 courses at WVU – Principles of Forestry Economics, Forest Finance, and Renewable Natural Resource Policy and Governance.
What research are you currently engaged in?
I am currently working on 4 research projects. The first one is on investment behavior of private forest landowners here in the US. Unlike in the Philippines, majority of the forest lands here is under private ownership. The behavior of these private forest landowners has important implications to timber availability since they control the majority of the timberland base. I also have a research project in partnership with my husband, (also a Vrod) Rico. We are both looking at the impact of urbanization on tree phenology. Phenology is the seasonal timing of biological events (e.g., flowering, budburst). We are specifically looking at the timing of budburst of trees, which is occurring earlier in urban areas due to the heat island effect. Rico is dealing with the ecological aspect and I am working on the economic implication. I also have a project with USDA that looks at the economic implications of elevated CO2 and O3 on tree growth and wood quality. Lastly, I am also working on a small research project funded by the university that examines the factors affecting e-commerce adoption in the primary and secondary hardwood industries in West Virginia.
How do you find UPLB students in general compared to students in an American university, for example, in West Virginia?
Students here in the US are more vocal and are not afraid to challenge their professors. Except for a minority, you don’t observe much of this in our students in the Philippines, at least from my experience from 7-10 years ago. I guess this stems from cultural differences. I am not saying though that Filipino students are not brilliant. Based from my experience, the students that I’ve had back in the Philippines even write and spell better than some of the American students I’ve had here (given that English is their first language).
The West Virginia Tech shooting was the worst shooting rampage in US history. It happened not too long ago and not too far away from your university. How did it affect students/other faculties in your university?
It was a complete shock for our university. I personally know students who have friends there that were in the middle of it all. As a result of that incident, WVU has been very active in preparing security measures in the event that such an unfortunate incident will strike our university.
Do you think it could happen at any university?
This type of incident could happen at any university or any school for that matter. We see it in the news all the time.
You are married to a Varron (Brod Rico). If circumstances were different, let’s say, you did not join the UPVL, do you think you would have married a Varron?
If I haven’t joined the organization, I probably would not have married a Varron because my social circle would have been limited only to my blockmates in college and classmates.
What is your baby’s name? How do you manage your time and activities between your teaching, research, and family?
Our daughter’s name is Kira Nicole. It’s definitely challenging to manage career and family especially now that we have Kira. This is even compounded by the fact that our families are not here to help us out and that both Rico and I are on tenure-track academic positions. I just do the best I can. I try to be really productive when I am at work because when I get home, I make sure that I devote that time to my daughter and husband.
Is there any advice that you can give to the undergrad UPVL members?
Be conscientious with your studies and give your best in everything you do.
Last Updated on October 12, 2016 by Tudla_Admin
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