Orion Aon, Natural Resources Management alumnus and nursery field production manager for the Colorado State Forest Service, authored a new book, Foraging Colorado: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods. Published by Falcon Guides, the book is scheduled for release in early May 2027.

Daniel Dominguez, a Watershed Science alumnus, current Ph.D. student, and Colorado Water Fellows program coordinator, was named a 2026 Pat Tillman Scholar. The competitive national fellowship recognizes military service members, veterans, and spouses for their leadership, academic achievement, service, and potential for meaningful impact.

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: Aug. 19 | 3 p.m. | North side of Sage Hall next to the parking lot: 700 S. Mason St.

When: Sept. 15 | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | Pollinator Garden outside of the Michael Smith Natural Resources building

More information about clothing recommendations can be found 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. 

Among several recent media features highlighting the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, NBC News spoke with Camille Stevens-Rumann, the institute’s director and co-lead, about the challenges fire managers face when allocating limited resources during a season of persistent, daily wildfires. “More experience is critical when dealing with extreme conditions,” Stevens-Rumann said.

Water levels at the two largest reservoirs in the country – Lake Mead and Lake Powell –  are continuing to dwindle, data from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation shows. "These reservoirs are really crucial for agriculture and other water needs throughout the Western states," said Steven Fassnacht, professor in the department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. 

In an interview with CSU SOURCE, Courtney Schultz, director of the School of Sustainable Futures and professor in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, shares her insights on this year’s wildfire season, what it means for public policy, and how CSU is preparing the next generation to combat these challenges head-on.

CSU research found that soil organic carbon does not improve crop yields during extreme drought, contradicting a commonly held belief. The study, led by scientists in the Warner College of Natural Resources and College of Agricultural Sciences, found the greatest benefits under moderate water conditions. The paper was published in May in Global Change Biology.

Brett Wolk, associate director and co-lead of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, spoke with Denver7 about the history of Colorado's approach to wildfires, its evolution, and its impact today.

Rebecca Niemiec, co-director of CSU’s Animal-Human Policy Center, associate professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioner, spoke with several news outlets about new hunting limits for 17 furbearer species. “All of this comes down to values,” Niemiec said. “There is no biological reason for a high bag limit, and there is no biological reason for a low bag limit. It’s about whose values do we uphold?”

The college is still looking for nature-inspired art from graduate students to feature in the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building Atrium display case. More information about this temporary exhibit 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.