Congratulations to all of the 2026 Warner College graduates! Photos from the recognition and graduate ceremonies can be found on the college's Flickr page. Photos from CSU's all-university commencement ceremony can be found on their Flickr page.  

Gov. Jared Polis appointed Rebecca Niemiec, associate professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and founder and co-director of Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center, to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. Niemiec is one of three new appointments to the commission and will serve a term expiring July 1, 2029.

Alexandria Pineda and Ellie Lutz, students in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, were selected for the 2026-2027 cohort of the Rachel Carson Council National Environmental Leadership Fellowship Program. The national fellowship supports students in developing projects focused on sustainability and environmental justice on their campuses or in their local communities.  

Spencer Burkhart, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, received the Excellence in Software and AI award at CSU Demo Day in April for his poster presentation titled, “Evolutionary Optimization Algorithm for Adaptive Livestock Grazing Management Using Virtual Fencing." He was one of 12 recipients to receive a $1,000 award from CSU STRATA.   

Lena Schnell, a senior program manager with CEMML, was recently honored with the Military Natural Resource Conservation Research Award from the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association. The award, presented at NMFWA’s 2026 conference, recognizes individuals whose research improves natural resource management on Department of Defense lands.

The college is updating staff photos as part of our website renewal process. If your headshot or staff photo is more than five years old or you’d like a new headshot, please sign up via this form for a photoshoot on one of the following days: 

When: July 23 or Aug. 19

Location: The North side of Sage Hall next to the parking lot: 700 S. Mason St.

More information about clothing recommendations can be found through the link above. 

The Office for Inclusive Excellence is now accepting proposals for the 26th annual Symposium, set this year for Oct. 19-22.  The Symposium will be completely virtual, organized around three major themes:

Proposals are due June 22 at 11:59 p.m.

Are you a Warner student who makes nature-inspired art? The college wants to feature your artwork in the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building Atrium display case as part of a temporary exhibit! More information can be found in the link above. 

CSU's Professional Development Institute is a long-standing tradition offering CSU faculty, state classified personnel, administrative professionals, and graduate students an opportunity to present content and generate energy in their passion areas. The PDI will be held Jan. 5-7, 2027. The call for proposals is now open through Sept. 30, 2026. More information can be found through the link above. 

Each year, forest health reports provide information to the Colorado General Assembly and the public about the health and condition of forests across Colorado, as well as the progress the Colorado State Forest Service is making in addressing critical forest health issues in our state.

How people view and treat wild animals can vary dramatically from one part of the world to another. In the first international study of wildlife values, research led by Colorado State University found a distinct difference between Latin American views toward wildlife and those in the United States and Canada – and traced the divergence in views to European colonization centuries ago.

In a USA Today opinion piece, Anna Lavoie, assistant professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, and co-author Brooke Woods describe the harmful effects of trawling on salmon populations and Alaska Native families, an issue that is reshaping how candidates campaign in the midterm elections. 

Colorado’s top forest health concern is a mountain pine beetle outbreak on the Front Range that has expanded by nearly 150% from 2024 to 2025. “It’s getting tough to be a tree in Colorado. Heat and drought are stressing our forests, turning many areas into tinderboxes and making it harder for trees to fight off bark beetles and other insects,” said Matt McCombs, state forester and director of the Colorado State Forest Service. 

Assistant Professor Joel Correia and Research Associate Michael Esbach in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources received a two-year grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to develop new tools for conservation monitoring and Indigenous-led stewardship assessment, in partnership with Fundación EcoCiencia and five Indigenous nations in Ecuador. 

Save the Elephants researchers, led by Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Professor George Wittemyer, reunited a four-month-old elephant calf with her family, as the herd welcomes the baby and moves off into the sunset together. The calf had wandered into a tourist camp earlier in the day, and campsite staff called the research team, which returned the calf to her family after an intensive search to determine which elephant family in Samburu National Reserve was missing a calf. 

Maya Brandewie, a high school student in the Estes Park School District, won first place in Estes Valley Land  Trust's 4th Annual Student Environmental Film Festival. Brandewie's video included interviews with Steven Fassnacht, professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, and Jill Baron, ecosystem ecologist with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory.

Tuesdays June 9-July 21 | Times and locations vary

Tour Tuesdays is a series that takes guests behind the scenes and backstage to showcase a variety of programs, collections, research, and state-of-the-art facilities. There is no cost to attend a tour, but advance registration is required for each tour guest as tour group sizes are limited.

Tuesdays and Thursdays July 14-Aug.18
9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Powerhouse Energy Campus

CSU's Energy Institute is hosting a series of hands-on workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays July 14-Aug.18 to help researchers, faculty, graduate students, and ambitious undergraduates increase their competitiveness in grant applications. Registration opens soon. 

Wednesday, July 22 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Virtual

Join the Colorado Natural Heritage Program for a CODEX Community Training Webinar to help support work in conservation and land use decisions. This virtual training is free to attend but prior registration is required. 

Aug. 17-19 | CSU SPUR Campus, Denver

Join hundreds of cross-sectoral sustainability professionals as they share their work that champions evidence-based research, innovative and accessible solutions, and the persistence and preparation essential to building a hopeful and resilient future. Registration is now open to students, professionals, and community-based nonprofits.