We’re also laying the groundwork for a funding program aimed at creating more experiential learning courses. I’ve asked our experiential education strategic goal 3 team to develop a selection process for additional course proposals, with more details and a call for submissions coming soon. We’ll begin this effort with support for courses focused on birds, plants, fish, and urban environments in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, that will better prepare our undergraduates for internships and careers.   

Additionally, we’re allocating funds to enhance classroom and conference room technology, ensuring these spaces remain effective and adaptable as our teaching and meeting needs evolve. 

Thank you for your engagement in prioritizing initiatives that advance our strategic goals.   

On another note, keep an eye out for an announcement regarding this year’s proposal request for the Dean’s Transdisciplinary Grant Initiative for Environmental Wicked Problems. We’re making exciting updates to inspire even more innovative proposals. We will also continue offering travel grants to encourage interdisciplinary conference participation, helping to break down scientific silos. 

The past two years of this grant have resulted in significant contributions across critical research areas, including human health and nature connections, environmental policy and governance, human-wildlife coexistence, groundwater management, and ecological stewardship of Western ranchlands. I hope you’ll consider proposing a project.  

Thank you for your ongoing dedication this semester. As we approach the final stretch, remember to look out for one another and take the time you need to recharge. Let’s continue supporting our community and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. 

Liba Pejchar, professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology was featured as an invited plenary speaker at the American Ornithological Society meet in Estes Park October 1 - 5. Pejchar's talk was titled Island birds and equity in a changing world.

The Pathways Europe 2024 Conference was held in Cordoba, Spain, October 13 - 16. Over 300 researchers and practitioners joined from around the world to collaborate on issues in human-wildlife management. The conference focused on rewilding and included a presentation by Warner's Dean A. Alonso Aguirre. The Pathways 2025 Conference is planned for September 7-10, 2025 in Estes Park, Colorado, and is cohosted by the Pathways long-term partner, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Adam Moore, CSFS Supervisory Forester played a key role in the Wildfire Research team that will receive the Governor’s Award for High-Impact Research at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science this month. Moore contributed to the WiRē (Wildfire Research) Approach, which pairs on-the-ground, professional assessment of a home’s wildfire risk to the homeowners’ understanding of their risk. 

Dean Aguirre would like to connect with faculty, staff, and students to stay connected and 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.  

The last event in the Dean's Scholar Sip Conversation Series will be held on Wednesday, November 13. The informal events bring together faculty, researchers, and graduate students throughout the College to build community and foster potential collaborations. The event will highlight active research in the College and provide opportunities to create awareness of our science and engage in collaborative conversations. Please RSVP below. The College will offer a complimentary beverage for all attendees.  

Wednesday, November 13 

5 - 6:30 p.m.
Prost Brewing
1510 S. College Ave.

Camille Stevens-Rumann, associate professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship and assistant director for the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, will serve as the interim director of CFRI. Stevens-Rumann brings a wealth of experience and dedication to leading CFRI during this transitional period. In addition, Brett Wolk, assistant director, will be stepping into a greater leadership role to work as a close partner with Stevens-Rumann throughout this transition. Wolk’s commitment and expertise will be invaluable as CFRI continues to evolve and advance its mission.

The Steering Committee of the Budget Model Redesign will be hosting two more in-person Campus Conversations as the process moves into Phase 5: Learning Year.

Budget Model Redesign Campus Conversations

For more information about the Budget Model Redesign from both the CSU level and the Warner College level, please access slides 34 - 45 from the All College Meeting below. 

The Graduate School invites all CSU students and staff to attend the 9th annual Graduate Student Showcase on November 20 in the Lory Student Center. 

Graduate students will showcase their work through visual arts, live performances, and research poster talks from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The event offers undergraduates a unique chance to learn about the latest research and scholarship in various fields, discover possible career paths, and gain insights into graduate studies.  

This year Dr. Samuel Ramsey, a celebrated and engaging science communicator, will be the keynote speaker. His talk “Hive and Prejudice: The Enduring Obstacle to Saving the Bees” will be held in the LSC Theatre from 3 – 4:30 p.m. and is open to all. 

This First Destination and Satisfaction report is intended to provide an overview of the first destination plans of those graduating from Colorado State University. The Warner College of Natural Resources made gains in key areas in the 2022-2023 report, including internships rates and placement. The full report can be accessed below. 

If you still need to vote, the Student Disability Center has information about accessible voting options in Colorado. 

CSU’s main campus Voter Service and Polling Center is open in the Never No Summer Ballroom at the Lory Student Center. A walk-up ballot dropbox is located outside the north entrance of the Lory Student Center. Both locations are open now through Election Day.

Warner College Business Services is your integrated support team for all
Financial Services, Human Resource Services, and Proposal Support Services

CSU’s benefit programs for 2025 include several updates, featuring both modified and new medical plan options. Open enrollment takes place from October 28 – November 15. The Annual Benefits Fair takes place from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5 in the Lory Student Center, Ballroom A.  Detailed information can be found on the 2025 benefits update web page through the button below. 

JoKaren “Jody” Smokstad (B.S., occupational therapy, ’70) and Michael Werner (B.S., outdoor recreation, ’70) met on their first day on CSU's campus in 1966 in Green Hall. They began their life journey together that day and used the fulcrum of experiential learning to leverage impactful international careers, raise engaged and curious kids and grandkids, and return to CSU as stalwart supporters of their alma mater as volunteers and donors.

During Homecoming and Family Weekend, the Werners were honored together at the CSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Awards: Mike as the Warner College of Natural Resources Honor Alumnus, and Jody as the College of Health and Human Sciences Honor Alumna. The couple reflected on their experiences in a video created by the Warner College of Natural Resources

The "Call Me" phone call authentication method for Duo will no longer be available effective December 18. Please see this solution article for more information.

Please complete the annual required cybersecurity training! Please login to Litmos to complete this training for the 2024 cycle or confirm it has already been completed. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. For more information, please visit the Cybersecurity webpage.

The Colorado State Forest Service awarded $1.6 million for 11 projects in 8 counties across Colorado in the first round of funding for the Colorado Infrastructure Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grant program.  CSFS paired the announcement with a new video about a tree inventory in Yuma that helped the town get the data it needed for a successful Colorado IRA UCF grant. The inventory was conducted by CSFS staff and interns from the Warner College of Natural Resources over the summer. 

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program now has an Instagram account. Be sure to follow them for their latest news and events.

CNHP will be hosting an art opening on Thursday, November 21 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the CNHP office located at 242 General Services Building. The event is a collaboration with the CSU Art and Art History Department's capstone painting portfolio class. The paintings will be available for purchase at the opening, and food will be served. For more information, please email David Anderson, Director and Chief Scientist at CHNP. 

Researchers say there are not enough small trees or seeds from living trees to replace burned trees. Even if there were enough, they say the U.S. does not have the workers to plant and care for them. The Forest Service said the biggest delays they meet while replanting on public land are preparing environmental and cultural studies and preparing burned areas, so they are safe to plant. That can take years. Camille Stevens-Rumann, associate professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship said, "We're in a place of such drastic climate change that we are not talking about whether or not some of these places will be a different kind of forest, but whether or not they will be forests at all." 

Caitlin Wells is the co-lead of a long-term study — almost 35 years strong — on the behavior of golden-mantled ground squirrels at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). She’s spent the last 15 summers studying the behavior of generations of ground squirrels. “Over the years, as is the case for so many of the studies here, this has become a climate change study,” Wells said. “[We] have the opportunity to use all of this long term data to see how changes in climate are impacting this particular species.”

What keeps you up at night? Bank account woes? An impending work presentation? Analyzing that embarrassing thing you said in the seventh grade? Boring! To give you something fresh to worry about during the Halloween season, The Denver Post pulled from the scariest thing we can think of — the state of the world — and asked a slew of smart Coloradans to share what in their field of study truly worries them, including Seth Davis, associate professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship.

The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and the Office of the Vice President for Research are collaborating to offer cost-sharing funding for professional development through the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.

NCFDD’s signature program, the Faculty Success Program: Achieve Academic Success and Better Work-Life Balance, requires an additional fee for institutional members. This intensive, 12-week online program is their most popular program. It helps non-tenure track, tenure-track, and tenured faculty develop the skills necessary to increase research and writing productivity while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Please see the email from Susan James, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at CSU, for more information about this cost-sharing opportunity. 

The Colorado State University Alumni Association invites you to nominate your students for the 2025 Albert C. Yates Student Leadership Award. The Albert C. Yates Student Leadership Award is awarded annually to a graduating student who demonstrates strong involvement, leadership, and a commitment to upholding CSU's values, traditions, and spirit. The recipient of the Albert C. Yates Student Leadership Award will serve as the Commencement Old Main Bell ringer and will receive a Life Membership to the CSU Alumni Association.

For nomination criteria and form, please click the button below, and visit the website to view past recipients 

The Draper Natural History Museum, in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, is pleased to announce the 2025 Camp Monaco Prize. Only one $100,000 prize will be awarded for 2025. Projects with matching funds committed will be viewed favorably. The application period is open through January 31, 2025.

For full details and examples of previously funded research, please visit the Camp Monaco Prize webpage hosted by the Draper Natural History Museum or click the More Info button below. 

ANNUAL BENEFITS FAIR

⏰ Tuesday, November 5 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

📍Lory Student Center, Ballroom A

DEAN'S SCHOLAR SIP
CONVERSATION SERIES

⏰ Wednesday, November 13 | 5 - 6:30 p.m.

📍Prost Brewing

NO MAN'S LAND FILM FESTIVAL

⏰ Thursday, November 14 | 6 - 8 p.m.

📍Lory Student Center Theatre

GRADUATE STUDENT SHOWCASE

⏰ Wednesday, November 20 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

📍Lory Student Center

CNHP ART OPENING

⏰ Thursday, November 21 | 4 - 6 p.m.

📍CNHP Office, 242 General Services Building

WCNR HOLIDAY PARTY

⏰ Wednesday, December 4 | 4 - 6 p.m.

📍Location: TBD

WCNR COMMENCEMENT

⏰ Saturday, December 14 | 9 a.m.

📍Moby Arena

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.