First, I hope that you are all well and enjoying some of the longest days of the year!
NRM has been humming along with lots of activities and celebrations for our undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty accomplishments as you will see in the newsletter. Including hosting a joint fisheries and wildlife conference for the Dakotas as well as celebrating the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, undergraduate and graduate student Research Day on campus with outstanding representation and even a panelist from NRM, and we have both a new associate professor and a new full professor amongst us! Congratulations to all!
I am pleased to share that Dr. Sandy Smart will be serving as the interim department head and Dr. Josh Leffler will continue in his role as assistant department head. A new external search for a NRM department head will occur during the next academic year. We are extremely grateful for Sandy and Josh’s willingness to serve in these leadership roles for our department.
Have a wonderful start of summer and I hope our paths cross in the next few months!
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Alison Coulter to Associate Professor and Josh Leffler to Full Professor. These well-earned advancements recognize their continued excellence in teaching, research, and service to the university community, their disciplines and beyond. Congratulations!
Dakota Chapter Joint Conference
February 24-26, 2026 | Brookings Campus
Drs. Alison Coulter and Bill Severud were co-organizers for the Dakota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society and the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society. The joint annual meeting was held at the SDSU Student Union, bringing together students, staff, faculty, and natural resource professionals from across the region.
The event provided a valuable platform for NRM undergraduate and graduate students to showcase their research, exchange ideas, and engage directly with professionals working in fisheries and wildlife fields. Through oral presentations, posters, and informal discussions, students gained firsthand experience communicating their work while building meaningful professional connections.
A highlight of the meeting was the recognition of student achievement, with several NRM students receiving scholarships and awards for their academic accomplishments and research contributions. The joint meeting continues to be an important opportunity for professional development, collaboration, and celebrating the work of emerging scientists in natural resource management.
Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day (SRSCAD)
April 14, 2026 | Brookings Campus
This year's event we celebrated undergraduate and graduate students on the same day. SRSCAD showcases the wide range of student research at SDSU, offering participants the opportunity to present their work, share ideas, and engage with peers and faculty across disciplines. We are excited to recognize NRM outstanding undergraduate students who each received awards in the Environmental Science/Natural Resources category.
Ava Graham (Dr. Bill Severud): Geospatial Modeling of Chronic Wasting Disease: A GIS-Based Approach to Predict Disease Risk
Cooper Olson (Dr. Steve Chipps): Quantifying Macroinvertebrate Populations in Gary Creek, SD
Katherine Pfeifle (Dr. Lan Xu): Botanical Exploration of Post-Mined Land Reclamation: A Comparative Study of Native Legume vs. Non-Native legumes
Graduate Student Awarded Prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship
April 13, 2026
Isabel Dalton (Advisor: Dr. Katie Wenzell) was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, one of the nation’s most competitive honors for graduate students in science and engineering. This recognition highlights Isa’s outstanding academic achievements and research potential in natural resource management. Congratulations, Isa!
SDSU was well represented at the South Dakota Grasslands Summit held March in Mitchell, SD. The event was organized by the SD Grassland Initiative under the leadership of Executive Director Laura Kahler.
Two graduate students, Payton Lemme and Ethan Rising from the Di Stefano Lab, presented posters on their Master's research. SDSU Range Club officers Andrew Dammen, Lillie Armbruster, and Ava Brenner also attended to learn more about career pathways in rangeland and grassland management. Additional SDSU faculty and Extension professionals in attendance included Pete Bauman, Dr. Sean Di Stefano, Dr. Michele Dudash, Sean Kelly, Dr. Sandy Smart, and Kaylee Wheeler.
Overall, the summit highlighted the strong role SDSU students, alumni, faculty, and Extension professionals continue to play in supporting South Dakota’s grasslands.
Dr. Lora Perkins co-led this program and NRM undergraduates Chloe Boyda, Grace Carruthers, and Alaina Wolter participated in the 2026 Australia Study Abroad program, gaining firsthand insight into Australia’s diverse natural resources and agricultural systems. The experience extended beyond academics, offering meaningful opportunities to engage with local communities, landscapes, and culture.
International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026
April 17, 2026 | McCrory Gardens
NRM celebrated the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026 with a special event featuring opening remarks by President Dunn followed by faculty and graduate student presentations.
Designated by the United Nations, IYRP 2026 highlights the global importance of rangelands ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, wetlands, tundra, and deserts that cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface. These landscapes play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, and sustaining livestock systems essential to food security.
NRM came together to celebrate its graduate students at the annual Graduate Student Appreciation event. The celebration offered an opportunity to recognize the hard work, accomplishments, and community that defines the NRM graduate program.
The event featured a lively mix of activities, including trivia, graduate student awards, and SDSU ice cream, followed by a group dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. The gathering created a welcoming space for students and faculty to connect, reflect on the past year, and celebrate shared successes. A special highlight of the event was the participation of NRM’s West River graduate students McKenzie Boyer, Angie Lemminger, Ariel Berenyi-Tonesi, and Audrey Van Zelfden who traveled from Rapid City to join the celebration.
NRM extends sincere thanks to the NRM Event Committee and the NRM Scholarship Committee for their time and effort in organizing a successful and memorable event.
NRM hosted its annual Earth Day celebration on April 22 in the outdoor space between the Biostress and Raven buildings, continuing a valued department tradition.
The event brought together students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors to celebrate environmental stewardship and community engagement. Student clubs played a central role, hosting booths throughout the event to showcase their organizations, share information about activities and opportunities, and connect with attendees interested in natural resources and sustainability.
Graduate Student Volleyball Tournament (February 21) Brought together seven teams from across the NRM community for friendly competition and networking. Organized by NRM GSA President Elena Friedman in partnership with the Graduate School.
DQ Fundraising Event (March 12 & April 2) Organized a Dairy Queen fundraising event, with GSA members volunteering in shifts to support the effort.
Extension & Outreach Activities
Women in Science
March 11, 2026 | Southeast Technical College
Nine graduate students participated in the Women in Science event held in Sioux Falls, where the focus was on inspiring 8th-grade girls to explore future careers in STEM fields.
The students led a range of interactive, hands-on activities centered on natural resources. Popular stations included “Fishing for Facts,” where participants learned about invasive, non-game, and game fish species through engaging trivia and guided prompts, “Feed the Bat,” which introduced students to different bat species and their ecological importance, “Guess the Animal,” where students identified species using pelts and skulls, and “Native Plant Painting,” which featured paints made from vegetables.
(from left) Kassidy Frame, Claudia Mushel, Mia DiCianna, (second row) Maya Pendleton, (3rd row) Natalie Liberati, Helen Krueger, Hannah Mulligan, Elena Friedman and Anna Manson
Lake Campbell Sportsmen's Club Fish Fry and Youth Activity
May 30, 2026 | Lake Campbell
Three graduate students, Sylas Abarr, Hannah Mulligan, and Winnie Wei, along with undergraduate student Kaden Ball, participated in the Lake Campbell Sportsmen’s Club Spring Fish Fry and Youth Activity Event. The team engaged with community members of all ages, focusing on education around the aquatic food web. Through hands-on activities, live specimens, and interactive discussions, participants explored the connections among macroinvertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals, gaining a deeper understanding of ecosystem relationships. NRM appreciates everyone who stopped by to learn, connect, and contribute to a successful and engaging day.
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