Jeremy Rugenstein, associate professor in the Department of Geosciences, and Camille Stevens-Rumann, an associate professor in the Warner College of Natural Resources, were selected as Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the 2026-2027 cohort. Rugenstein will travel to Potsdam, Germany and Stevens-Rumann will be heading to Albacete, Spain.

Researchers from around the world gathered at Colorado State University June 16-18 for the 11th International Conference of the Evolutionary Demography Society. The conference was hosted under the leadership of Lise Aubry, associate professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and outgoing president of the Evolutionary Demography Society, with support from the department and CSU’s Office of the Vice President for Research.

Confluence 2026 brought together collaborative conservation practitioners, researchers, students and emerging leaders at CSU from May 19-21. Through small-group discussions, skill-building sessions and place-based experiences, participants explored what it takes to work across differences and build durable conservation solutions together. The conference welcomed 125 attendees and featured 18 sessions and three field trips. The full conference report and event photos are available through the link above.

While on sabbatical in Norway, Gillian Bowser, associate professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, developed an International Memorandum of Understanding between Colorado State University and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Ås, Norway to strengthen educational and scholarly collaboration between the two institutions.

Stuart Cottrell, professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, completed a study abroad course May 16-23 in The Bahamas with 15 CSU students and one Bahamian CSU student, Ricardo Simmons Jr. of Grand Bahama. The course marked the culmination of Cottrell’s sabbatical experience and supported one of his goals: strengthening the course’s cultural connection by including a Bahamian student perspective.

Caroline Nickerson, communications specialist for CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and CitSci, marched in the 16th annual Park Hill 4th of July Parade as Ms. Doctorate Colorado 2026 with other members of CitSci. She promoted her platform for the year: citizen science – research that opens its doors to everyone.

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

When: Sept. 15 | Pollinator Garden outside of the Michael Smith Natural Resources building

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

School is Cool is a CSU community outreach program that provides supply-filled backpacks to elementary, middle, and high school students from low-income families in the Poudre School District.

A $35 donation covers the cost of a backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies. Register to volunteer to sort, assemble, and deliver backpacks Aug. 4-6.

The Garth Englund Blood Center will be at the Foothills Campus and the Lory Student Center Plaza for the CSU Summer 2026 Blood Drive.

Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made through 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. 

Spread the word to Warner College undergraduates: applications are now open for the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Summit Student Professional Development Award. The award is to support students' professional development and networking. Deadline to apply is July 31, 2026. 

CSU researchers Julia Branstrator, adjunct faculty in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in the Warner College of Natural Resources, and Jeffrey G. Snodgrass, professor in the Department of Anthropology and Geography in the College of Liberal Arts, are two of the authors in a new study that explores how tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons may support players’ mental health and self-esteem. 

Although Greg McKittrick, a Ph.D. student in the Warner College of Natural Resources and research associate in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, was initially hesitant to take the Exploring Colorado Agricultural Systems class because he is not an agriculture student, the experience sparked an idea he sees as an opportunity to make use of CSU’s agricultural research centers.

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. 

Offered by the Graduate Center for Inclusive Mentoring, Mentor Mondays is an in-person series focused on effective mentoring relationships and their critical role in the graduate community. Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty are all invited to attend. All sessions are 12-1 p.m. Lunch provided, RSVP required through the link above.