West Branch alumnus Hayden Bock is the focus of this Alumni Watch series, having graduated from West Branch before moving to the Penn State area to become an assistant professor of landscape sustainability in the Department of Plant Science.

Bock graduated from West Branch in 2016. He continued his education at Penn State, earning an undergraduate degree in plant science, then completed a Ph.D. in soil ecology at Cornell University in New York. Afterward, he worked as a postdoctoral scientist (similar to a medical residency for research jobs) at Penn State for one year before starting his faculty position. In total, that is about nine years of training after high school.

The most consequential experience for Bock was joining Envirothon in 7th grade. He competed in the junior high division for two years and at the county level in grades 9–12. Mr. Socash kindly suggested that he be the “soil person” on the team. Saying yes led Bock to learn a lot about the different types of soil. Over the remainder of his high school career, he became increasingly interested in soils, from the vast number of organisms that live in them to the fact that every molecule in the foods we eat originates from soil. He was influenced enough that he continued studying those topics in college and now teaches other people about soils as well.

Envirothon advisor Daniel Socash says, “Hayden was a great kid, worked hard, didn’t complain about anything, and if he was told to do something, he would do it right away and wouldn’t complain. Hayden was very quiet and respectful. I am glad that I could have led a good kid to a good career.”

As an assistant professor of landscape sustainability in the Department of Plant Science at Penn State, Bock is part researcher and part teacher. He runs a research lab where his team applies ecological concepts to everyday places (such as parks, schoolyards, residential areas, sports fields, and street trees) and studies how these human-made systems behave similarly to or differently from native systems. His team also applies these findings to inform the management of these spaces. The goal is to identify practices that support the health of grass, trees, insects, and microbes while also benefiting people economically and environmentally.

Bock also teaches four classes at Penn State on landscape design, management, and urban ecology. He keeps his classes hands-on by testing soils, building small demonstration projects around campus, analyzing data, and working with community partners to solve real-world problems in urban design and maintenance. Within urban design and maintenance, Penn State is well known for its landscape contracting program, and Bock is honored to play a small role in equipping students for their careers.

Congratulations to Hayden Bock for his academic and career achievements at Penn State. The Warrior Watch staff are proud of Bock and all that he has accomplished.