Chestnut Chat Hall of Fame
Since its inception, The American Chestnut Foundation’s Chestnut Chat webinar series has hosted dozens of distinguished speakers. Representing fields from scientific research to cultural traditions, these partners have played a vital role in advancing public understanding of chestnut conservation. We are proud to have partnered with such dedicated experts and advocates. This page includes speakers who have participated since 2025. To view earlier speakers, please visit our Chestnut Chat Archive page.
February 20, 2026
Chestnuts Across Maine
Eva Butler
Vice President of ME-TACF Chapter
Bio
Eva grew up in rural New England. She currently resides in Maine. After earning degrees in ecology, economics, and entomology in the Midwest, she became a self-employed consulting ecologist and educator. She devoted her 40-year career to protecting water and habitat through community-based conservation and public education. Over the last 20 years of her career, Eva founded and nurtured Sacramento Splash, a non-profit dedicated to helping children understand and value the natural world. In retirement, Eva coordinates Volunteers and Outreach for the Maine Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. She is motivated by the power of a tree to connect us to one another, to nature, and to both the past and the future.
November 21, 2025
Balancing High-Flying Ideas and Grounded Methods for Faster Genetic Gain
Dr. Jessica Rutkoski
Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bio
Dr. Jessica Rutkoski is a small grains breeder and a quantitative geneticist. Jessica currently leads the winter wheat breeding program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her mission is to develop varieties that will help improve the profitability of wheat production in the eastern part of the Midwest and Midsouth. In line with this goal, Jessica’s scholarly research program develops and implements new ways to improve the efficiency of small grains breeding. Before joining the University of Illinois, Jessica worked at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), located in the Philippines and at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), located in Mexico.
October 10, 2025
Slow and Steady Wins the Race: How Breeding has Improved Disease Resistance in Loblolly Pine and Prospects for American Chestnut
Dr. Trevor Walker
Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics, Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University
Bio
Trevor is a forester, tree breeder, and quantitative geneticist. His undergraduate degree is in forest management and his masters is in forest biometrics from Stephen F. Austin State University. After his masters, he worked as a timber cruiser and inventory analyst for timber companies in the southern United States. He studied forest genetics for his PhD at NC State University, where he worked as a tree breeder for the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program. He assumed the role of Co-Director and Assistant Professor in 2023.