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New Mexico State University

Graduate Student Organization

The GSO seeks to:

  • Further the goals and professional development of graduate students within the Fishery and Wildlife Department.
  • Increase communication and understanding among graduate students and faculty.
  • Foster fellowship among graduate students within the Department.
  • Encourage attendances at conferences/meetings to improve presentation and networking skills with graduate students from other schools as well as other working professionals in wildlife-related fields.

Primary Objectives for this academic year are to continue to work with the faculty and the Department Head on specific issues relevant to the department and to keep abreast of University decisions affecting graduate students.

How do we do this?

By having graduate student representatives on the Departments Curriculum Committee, Computing and Networking Committee, Graduate Student Acceptance and Exit Requirement Committee and at Department Faculty Meetings. One GSO member also attends the New Mexico State University Graduate Student Council meetings.

Social Activities

Past and current social activities include a tail gate for the Colorado State University football game, helping a fellow graduate student with his Bighorn sheep survey in the Gila Wilderness, forming co-ed intramural softball and flag football teams, and gathering at students' homes, otherwise known as "the graduate student tour of homes."

As graduate students we work very hard and it's important to let off a little steam every now and then. So the GSO schedules sometimes spur of the moment happy hours at local establishments to play pool, shoot darts, and overall just socialize with fellow graduate students. It's a nice way to end the week and to keep abreast on current activities within the Department.

GCO Officers

  • President - Meg Ewald
  • Vice President - Jennifer McNicoll
  • Secretary - Laurie Lomas
  • Treasurers - Stephanie Haan
  • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mark Andersen

GCO - Our Home States

One of the interesting things about this Department is in the diversity of the students. We have students from ten different states within in the US and several students from Mexico. This type of diversity adds to the educational experience.

Current graduate students list home states as:

  • California
  • Chihuahua
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Sonora
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Country of Columbia
  • Country of Israel

Events

Student Representatives:

  • Graduate Student Council Meetings - Marguerite Hendrie
  • Departmental Faculty Meetings - Colin Lee
  • Departmental Committees:
  • Facilities Committee - Patrick Shirey
  • Graduate Program Committee - Bryce Krueger
  • Course of Study Committee - Jason Browning

Informal graduate meetings:

  • Weekly

GSO meetings:

  • Monthly

Recent Events

  • GSO members Marguerite Hendrie, Stephanie Haan, Laurie Lomas, Verity Mathis, and Colin Lee generously donated their time to educating a group of fourth grade students from Mesilla Valley Elementary (see pictures). Students learned about adaptations and classification through the use of our amazing museum specimen.
  • GSO members Sarah Mitchell and Marguerite Hendrie generously volunteered their time one Saturday in March to judge local area student science fair projects. Meanwhile, Bryan Roeder and Colin Lee presented their research at the 15th Annual Biology Research Symposium, here at NMSU. Special thanks to the Department of Biology for allowing our department to participate as well.
  • GSO Representatives Sarah Mitchell, Danielle D'Auria, Jen Graves, Steve Niemela, Mark Arana, Bryan Roeder, Octavio Rosas-Rosas and Alejandro Martinez recently presented research and attended seminars at the 2001 Wildlife Society Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada.
  • GSO Representatives Dan Ginter, Bryan Roeder, Sarah Mitchell, Bryce Krueger, Aaron Killgore and Steve Niemela recently spent an afternoon volunteering their time for the 2001 Southwest Environmental Center Rio Grande Clean Up and Kayak Race.
  • GSO Representatives Bryan Roeder, Sarah Mitchell and Dan Ginter volunteered their time to assist the Southwest Environmental Center Annual Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction at the Farm and Ranch Museum. SWEC hosted an excellent event attended by over 200 local contributors. Food, drink and auction items were donated by Purple Sage restaurant, High Desert Brewery, Blue Teal Vineyards and many local artists and businesses.

Upcoming Events

  • GRAS. Graduate Research and Arts Symposium is April 15 and 16th at Corbett Center.
  • The 2002 Wildlife Society Regional Meetings are coming to Safford, Arizona. Many GSO representatives will present their research at this conference.

Annoucements

  • Congratulations to Mark Arana, Steve Niemela and Jen Graves for successfully defending their M.S. theses this semester.

Contact Any of Us

Picking a graduate program is a very important decision and many times it’s important to talk with a current students about the program and prospective advisor. If you’re interested in New Mexico State University and the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Science we would be glad to share our experiences with you.