This will be my last official greeting as NRM department head. As you know Sandy Smart is stepping in as the Interim department head and Josh Leffler is our assistant department head. I thank them both for their commitment and leadership to our department!
Our building has been undergoing an almost 3-year upgrade on air handling and lab hoods and this work will be ending soon! All will be delighted to be in our new improved space in the fall! Our mammal collection will finally have its own space joining our bird, fish, invertebrate, and herbaria in designated areas with faculty curating each one.
Our outreach and extension activities have been well received this summer including our annual high school camp at Oak Lake Field Station, Rangeland Days, and our Native plant expos held throughout the state.
The faculty research programs are humming along, and we have had many graduate students complete their degrees in the last few months. Many undergraduates have also completed their degrees, were academic stars and are landing their dream jobs! We are proud of all of them and their accomplishments!
One Day for State is Sept 10, 2026 and we hope that many of you will contribute to NRM’s Excellence fund. All funds as in past years, are utilized to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students!
It has been an honor to be the NRM department head for the last 11 years. I wish everyone the best both professionally and personally and hope to see you around the state.
After 11 years of dedicated service as Department Head, Dr. Michele Dudash will retire on August 21. Please join us in celebrating her retirement and thanking her for her leadership and mentorship: Monday, August 17 at McCrory Gardens
One Day for STATE!
September 10 | Virtual Event
One Day for STATE is a 24-hour giving campaign hosted by the SDSU Foundation, designed to celebrate the university and encourage philanthropic support from the Jackrabbit community worldwide. The event highlights the impact of donations on student experiences, academic programs, and campus initiatives, showing how collective generosity can transform the future of SDSU.
In NRM, all funds raised support student experiential learning opportunities in the classroom and beyond. Activities include on-the-ground training, meeting attendance, club activities, student travel, research, and professional development that enable them to enter the workforce well prepared.
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists
June 12-15 | Norfolk, VA
The Martin and Short Labs represented NRM at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Alex Shupinski presented her postdoctoral research on bison habitat suitability. M.S. student Angie Lemminger shared her work examining bison social network structures, while Ph.D. student Ariel Berenyi-Tonesi presented research on fossil small mammal communities in Wind Cave National Park. M.S. student McKenzie Boyer also presented a poster exploring foot morphology in hoofed mammals.
This year, we continued one of our valued NRM traditions with our annual Undergraduate Graduation Reception held in the Biostress Atrium. Graduating seniors gathered with their families and friends to celebrate this important milestone, enjoying SDSU ice cream and spending time with NRM faculty and staff who are excited to see the graduating students pursue their dreams. We are incredibly proud of each graduate and the unique journeys that brought them to this achievement. As they step into their next chapter, we wish them continued success, fulfillment, and meaningful impact in their future endeavors. Congratulations all!
About 60 students, joined by NRM faculty members and graduate teaching assistants, participated in an immersive week-long field course at Oak Lake Field Station. This intensive experience provided students with valuable opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in a hands-on, real-world setting. Throughout the week, students developed practical skills in a wide range of field techniques. Activities included wildlife sampling across multiple taxa - fish, amphibians, birds, mammals, and aquatic invertebrates - as well as habitat assessments and environmental data collection. Students also gained experience in vegetation surveys, plant identification, soil characterization, and water quality testing.
In addition to building technical competencies, the course emphasized collaboration and problem-solving. Working in teams, students practiced critical thinking while collecting and analyzing data in dynamic field conditions. These experiences are essential for preparing students for careers in natural resource management, where adaptability and teamwork are key. Overall, the course provided a meaningful opportunity for experiential learning, helping students strengthen their field skills, and deepen their understanding of ecological systems and management practices.
High school students from across the region participated in our high school camp at the Oak Lake Field Station, where they spent five days exploring the science and management of natural resources.
Throughout the week, campers worked alongside instructors (Kirsten Engeseth and Riley Mounsdon) to identify wildlife species, collect environmental data, and practice field sampling techniques used by natural resource professionals. Activities included bird identification, aquatic ecology investigations, and lake monitoring exercises that gave students firsthand experience in natural resource management. In addition to developing scientific knowledge and field skills, participants built teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills through collaborative outdoor activities. Evening campfire gatherings and group discussions provided opportunities for students to connect with peers who share an interest in the outdoors and environmental stewardship.
The camp continues to inspire students to explore careers in conservation and natural resource management while fostering a greater appreciation for South Dakota's natural environments.
SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist Kaylee Wheeler and NRCS SD State Range Specialist and NRM Alumnus Emily Rohrer led this year’s South Dakota Rangeland & Soil Days in Belle Fourche, bringing together more than 150 youth, ages 8 to 18, and their families for 2 days of competition and hands-on learning about South Dakota’s working rangelands.
Participants practiced plant identification, explored soils and ecological sites, and learned how rangeland stewardship connects plants, animals, land, and people. The event highlighted the value of getting students outside and building the next generation of rangeland professionals and land stewards.
The NRM Department was well represented, with Dr. Sandy Smart, Dr. Krista Ehlert, Dr. Sean Di Stefano, and two graduate students from the Di Stefano Lab, Payton Lemme and Ethan Rising, participating alongside agency partners from NRCS, USFS, and others. South Dakota Rangeland & Soil Days is also supported by the South Dakota Section of the Society for Range Management.
Native Plant Expos: Native Plant Initiative Brings Plants and Education Across South Dakota
The Native Plant Initiative (NPI) continued its outreach across South Dakota this June with a series of Native Plant Expos featuring native plant sales and educational programs. The season began at McCrory Gardens in Brookings during the Garden Discovery Festival. Additional expos were held in partnership with the Rapid City Garden Club at the Education Garden, Beautify Spearfish at The Snapper’s Club, Rock Garden Nursery in Sioux Falls, and East Pierre Landscape and Garden Center. Approximately 30 species of native grasses and wildflowers were available for purchase grown from regionally collected seed by SDSU students. These native plants provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while helping gardeners incorporate native species into their landscapes.
Educational presentations were provided by Dr. Lora Perkins, professor and SDSU Extension Native Plant Specialist, who discussed proper native seed storage.
Extension Specialists, Robin Buterbaugh shared recommendations for native plants that provide food and habitat for birds and Allison Dollen compared establishing native plants from seed versus seedling transplants. M.S. student Alex Kovary explained the importance of selecting seed sources and plant materials adapted to the region.
Oak Lake Field Station recently welcomed members of the local community, SDSU colleagues, and guests from beyond the region for a day of learning, discovery, and connection. The day began with a series of engaging presentations. Dr. Michele Dudash, NRM Department Head, opened the program with welcoming remarks and an introduction to the station's mission and impact. Kirsten Engeseth followed with a presentation on undergraduate education opportunities at Oak Lake Field Station and the valuable hands-on learning experiences available to students. Research presentations covered a wide range of ecological topics. CJ Klopfenstein of Purdue University Fort Wayne discussed the ecology of Franklin's ground squirrels and the important ecosystem services they provide. Dr. Kelton Welch of the Ecdysis Foundation shared insights into bioinventories for regenerative farmers and highlighted the work being conducted at Blue Dasher Farm and through BugBox. Amadeu dos Santos Neto, Ph.D. student, presented his research on pollinators and flowering plants in the Prairie Coteau region.
Following the morning presentations, attendees enjoyed a lunch provided by Oak Lake Field Station, including SDSU ice cream from the Agricultural Experiment Station. The afternoon featured guided tours of the station, offering visitors a closer look at ongoing research and conservation efforts. Tour highlights included Pete Bauman's discussion of controlled prairie fires and their role in grassland management, Dr. Lora Perkins' laboratory and work with the Native Plant Initiative, and Amadeu dos Santos Neto's demonstrations of pollinator research and the DRAGNet project.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day a success!
Protecting the endangered Whooping Crane requires collaboration among conservation organizations, researchers, and wildlife professionals. During the Whooper Highway journey, SDSU Extension Water Resources Field Specialist David Kringen had the opportunity to connect with the International Crane Foundation to learn more about ongoing efforts to conserve this iconic species and its habitat.
On their bicycle route near Highmore South Dakota, Davespoke with Andy Caven and Mike Forsberg about the challenges facing Whooping Cranes and the collaborative work underway to support the species' recovery. The conversation highlighted the importance of research, habitat conservation, education, and partnerships in ensuring the long-term survival of this remarkable bird. Please check out the new video from Dave's visit with the Whooping Crane Foundation staff.
The Dean's List recognizes undergraduate students who achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher over a semester while completing at least 12 credit hours. We are proud of your hard work and dedication. Congratulations to our NRM students for their outstanding academic achievement!
Program Code
CPPM = Conservation Planning & Park Management
EES = Ecology & Environmental Science
EES-RNG = EES with Rangeland Ecology & Management specialization
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