Greetings Warner Colleagues –
I want to begin by acknowledging the challenges we are facing this semester due to the evolving situation with the federal government. Many in our community are feeling these impacts in different ways. I want you all to know that the University and College Leadership are working together continuously to understand and, where possible, mitigate the impacts and ramifications of various changes to those in our community.
Please refer to the University’s website for the latest information on federal directives. I want to reiterate to faculty and researchers that if you receive instructions related to federal grants, you should notify your unit head, Associate Dean for Research Chris Myrick, and the Vice President for Research Office. More information from the VPR and a link to submit questions and information are here.
As you have seen in messages from President Parsons, Provost and Executive Vice President Underwood, and Chancellor Frank, we are also making website adjustments in response to the University’s directives related to the recent letter from the Department of Education. Our academic programs and faculty work are not part of these initial adjustments. Similarly, student organizations and resources such as the University’s Cultural Resource Centers are open to all students and, therefore, require no adjustments at this time. We will continue following University guidance as the situation evolves. At the same time, we remain steadfast in our land-grant mission of access and success. We will continue our critical work to support all students in achieving their academic goals.
Thank you for your recent engagement with the College on these matters in our town hall meetings. We are also working closely with Warner College Council to provide a similar forum for undergraduate students. There will be more to come as the semester proceeds, and we will add additional engagements as needed moving forward. As always, please reach out if you have questions or need to raise any issues.
Now is a time when we must come together as a community to support one another. We are fortunate to have collaborated for years to build a strong community that we can rely on in difficult situations. We hope you will embrace that and continue to care for yourselves while supporting each other as best you can. Thank you all for making our community what it is today and helping to shape its future.
Thank you all for your hard work, support and dedication to Warner College. |
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Dean | Warner College of Natural Resources |
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Warner College 2025 Awards Submissions |
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| Nominate a Colleague or Student! |
Don't forget that the deadline to nominate a deserving student or colleague for a Warner College Award is end of business on Friday, March 21. The nomination information has been updated since the February Warner Wire. Please view the latest version below.
Mark your calendars for the annual College Award's Reception, held during NR Days. Winners will be announced and honored on Wednesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. Watch your emails for more details. |
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University of Guam Partnership |
Alonso A. Aguirre, Dean of the Warner College of Natural Resources, and the leadership team from the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands recently traveled to Guam to sign a MOU between the University of Guam and Colorado State University. |
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Former Colorado State University postdoctoral researcher Mickey Pardo, who published a groundbreaking study showing that elephants have names for each other, has been selected for this year’s Explorers Club 50. |
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Camille Stevens-Rumann, associate professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, shares her expertise in Forbes on the importance of balancing fire’s ecological role with community protection. |
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Two Master of Conservation Leadership program alumni, Valerie Miller and Eduardo Boné-Móron, received prestigious 2025 AAAS David & Betty Hamburg Award for Science Diplomacy. |
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| See more Warner Awards and Kudos |
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Natural Resources Days 2025 |
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Natural Resources Days will take place this year from April 14 to April 25, and Warner College of Natural Resources is inviting the CSU community to learn about and celebrate the vital elements that make up the planet we call home. NR Days celebrates Earth Month with fun and educational activities for students, faculty and staff to come together.
Learn more about NR Days and all of the events happening this year by visiting the NR Days webpage. |
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Volunteers Needed for MURALS |
The Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Art and Leadership Symposium is an undergraduate research and artistry symposium that provides a platform for students to engage in undergraduate research across campus and showcase their scholarly work. To ensure that this event is a success in uplifting to the students' work, MURALS is seeking volunteers for the day of the event, March 28, 2025, for multiple time slots between 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. For more information about being a volunteer and signing up, please visit the MURALS website.
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Federal Updates Webpage and Free Speech Resources |
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CSU is closely monitoring changes in federal policies and administrative actions and analyzing the possible impacts on the university community. Stay up-to-date with the latest information on the Federal Updates webpage. The University has updated a FAQ related to free speech and political activity. Please familiarize yourself with this helpful resource. |
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Dean Aguirre's Spring Office Hours |
Dean Aguirre would like to connect with faculty, staff, and students to stay engaged with the research and work taking place in the College. If you or your small group would like to meet with the Dean to discuss opportunities and challenges or even just update him on exciting developments in your current research, please use the SignUp Genius system below to schedule a meeting. Meetings can take place in person or virtually. If you have any questions about meeting details or logistics, don't hesitate to contact Mary Dolce, Assistant to the Dean.
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| Don't forget that the newly launched Warner Wire webpage is your one-stop hub for the most current news, updates, kudos, and announcements from the college. The webpage is updated daily. |
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Warner College Business Services is your integrated support team for all
Financial Services, Human Resource Services, and Proposal Support Services |
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CY25 Total Philanthropic Support |
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As of February 25, Warner College of Natural Resources has raised $1,745,501 towards a goal of $8,200,000. |
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The Ecosystem Science and Sustainability department recently received a three-year pledge for $42,000 each year to be awarded to a high-achieving Ph.D. student in Watershed Sciences. The award is designated to a single recipient and is to be used for any research expenditures that are incurred by the Ph.D. candidate. The new fund, the Fitzwater Watershed Science Excellence Fund, was created by a Watershed Science alumnus, Phil Fitzwater in 2024 to celebrate the exceptional work being done in Watershed Science. Special thanks to ESS Department Head Rich Conant and Watershed Science faculty Matt Ross for their partnership in closing this gift!
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The Development Team is excited to share that 25 faculty, staff, and emeriti faculty donated $500 or more in 2024 to funds in the Warner College of Natural Resources. Many of you also gave generously in the past year through one-time gifts and payroll deduction — every gift matters and makes a difference. We thank you for your support of our students, departments, and centers!
If you are interested in learning how you can make a monthly philanthropic contribution to a destination of your choice via payroll deduction, please reach out to Jenny Cleveland, Development Operations Coordinator. |
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Discontinuation of Support for Windows 10 |
Windows 10 will no longer be supported starting October 2025. Please plan ahead and upgrade any computers running Windows 10 to Windows 11 or replace them before October. For more information please read the Solutions Article. |
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New Computer Purchase Process |
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Technology Services is excited to announce a new and improved computer purchase process through the Warner College Service Portal. The new system is designed to make ordering computers simple and ensure you receive a Warner College-supported computer that will meet your needs. |
New Purchase Process: Computer purchases should now be made through the Warner College Service Portal. The portal provides an easy way to view our standard computer configurations and track the status of your order. |
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Purchase Computers by April 1 for FY25: Please plan to purchase any new computers before the end of March. This will ensure that your purchase is processed and equipment received before the end of the fiscal year.
Windows 10 End of Support Reminder: Please note that Windows 10 will reach end of support in October. Upgrading to new computers now, if needed, will help you transition smoothly to the newer operating system and avoid potential security risks. |
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Technology Services appreciates your collaboration and feedback as they implement this new process. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Warner College Technology Services or submit a General Technology Request. |
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International Affairs Committee |
International Affairs Committee |
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The mission of Warner College's International Affairs Committee is to celebrate the international diversity of the college, and build connections, learning, and engagement with our international community among students, staff, and faculty. Learn more about the IAC by visiting their website. |
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Meet Melody Zarria Samanamud |
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Melody is an international student from Peru pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, working on understanding the ecological impacts on climate change and land management on the Arhuaycancha Valley in the Huascaran National Park in Peru. Learn more about Melody's research and her experiences as an international student at CSU. |
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| CSFS celebrates 70 years of forestry |
On February 14, 1955, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill No. 10 that created the modern Colorado State Forest Service. At the time, the new agency employed seven employees in three districts. Fast forward 70 years, and the CSFS has about 170 employees in 18 field offices and several satellite offices across the state to serve Colorado’s residents and communities. |
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Trees might need our help to survive climate change, CSU study finds |
A new Colorado State University study of the interior U.S. West has found that tree ranges are generally contracting in response to climate change but not expanding into cooler, wetter climates – suggesting that forests are not regenerating fast enough to keep pace with climate change, wildfire, insects and disease. “Trees provide a lot of value to humans in terms of clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and recreation,” said lead author Katie Nigro, who conducted the study as a CSU graduate student. “If forest managers want to keep certain trees on the landscape, our study shows where they can still exist or where they might need help.”
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| How Rivers Carved the Canyons of the Central Colorado Plateau |
Dramatic gorges such as such as the Grand Canyon and Arches National Park are created when a river incises into the rock below over millions of years. The rate of river incision in the Colorado Plateau has varied over time and is not well understood. In a paper co-authored by Joel Pederson, department head and professor in the Department of Geosciences, the team looked at two reaches of the Colorado River to determine how and why incision varied during the Pleistocene. |
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Why do skiers sunburn so easily on the slopes? A snow scientist explains |
It’s extremely easy to get sunburned while you’re skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, but have you ever wondered why? While it’s true that you’re slightly closer to the sun when you’re high in the mountains, that isn’t the reason. Steven Fassnacht, professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability explains. |
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| When the wild things are: URI team reports on mammalian daily activity with surprising results |
Brian Gerber, a University of Rhode Island research ecologist now with the U.S. Geological Survey at Colorado State University, and Kadambari Devarajan, URI research fellow and affiliate, led a project team of over 200 collaborators that set up 20,080 camera sites across 38 countries in six continents. Together, they leveraged 8.9 million observations to create an enormous library of standardized activity estimates. |
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Colorado's forest now emitting more carbon than it absorbs, CSU researchers discover |
According to data reviewed and analyzed by Colorado State University researchers, Colorado's forest as a collective is now emitting more carbon into the atmosphere than it is absorbing. Data collected between 2002 and 2019 showed the number of carbon sources outnumbered the number of carbon sinks in Colorado's forest. "One thing we found is Colorado's forest holds a lot of carbon," said Tony Vorster, research scientist in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. "They hold the equivalent of 1.3 billion cars on the road for one year. It's a lot of carbon."
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Third Annual First Bumble Bee of the Year Contest |
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The contest is back for its third year! Find the first bumble bee of the year in Larimer County and/or the CSU campus and win a beer or something equivalent from John Mola, assistant professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. For more information on how to win and see previous years' winners, visit the Mola Lab website. |
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Selective Science Communications Workshop Series |
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The Colorado Forest Collaborative Network's 2025 interactive peer-learning series will feature 3 Co-Learning Workshop sessions paired with 3 Crafting Sessions (to develop a Selective Science Communications Toolkit!). The sessions will last from April through June 2025.
If activities, discussions around selective science communications, and collaboration on a public communications toolkit excite you, learn more and apply today! This application is due by 5 p.m. MST on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. |
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RSM River Mechanics Podcast |
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Check out the latest episode of the RSM River Mechanics podcast titled: Ellen Wohl on World Rivers, River Restoration, and the Dimensions of Fluvial Connectivity. Wohl, professor in the Department of Geosciences, discusses large river processes, the flood pulse model, the history and current state of restoration research and practice, and fluvial connectivity. |
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CEMML T-shirt Design Contest for Students |
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The Early Career Development Program at CSU’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands is holding a student t-shirt design contest. The CSU undergraduate or graduate student who submits a design that best represents the ECDP will be awarded $300. The ECDP provides paid, hands-on training in natural and cultural resource management, environmental planning, and GIS for students and recent graduates. |
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The program offers internships, early-career positions, and professional tracks with mentorship and career advancement opportunities.
The deadline to submit a t-shirt design is Friday, March 21. For more details about the contest, please see the flyer below. |
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Wednesday, April 9 | 9:30 a.m. - Noon |
| Times and locations will vary |
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| 6th Annual International Symposium |
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| Project Learning Tree Workshop |
Monday, April 7 | 1 - 3 p.m. |
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| Celebration of Undergraduate Research
and Creativity (CURC) |
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| Arbor Day Celebration at Spur |
Friday, April 25 | Starts at 2 p.m. |
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| Check out the Warner Events Calendar |
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The Warner Wire: Dean's Digest |
The Warner Wire: Dean's Digest |
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You are receiving this Warner College digest because you are a member of the College community. If you would like to submit an update, announcement, or kudos for consideration, submissions are due by the last Monday of each month for inclusion in the following month’s digest. Please submit ideas to Director of Communications and Strategy, Rob Novak. |
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