History of the Department

Founded in 1888 as Las Cruces College...

Founded in 1888 as Las Cruces College, the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was established as a land-grant college in 1889. The college grew steadily during the next 72 years, and in 1960 the constitution of New Mexico was amended, formally changing its name to New Mexico State University. Teaching programs at NMSU were organized into 6 colleges and the Graduate School. The College of Agriculture and Home Economics consisted of 8 academic departments, including what is now the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences.

The study of Wildlife Science at NMSU became official in 1959 when Dr. John E. Wood was hired in the Department of Animal, Range and Wildlife Sciences. In 1961, after being housed for two years in a building that no longer exists, the Department was relocated in Neale Hall, occupying 5 offices and 2 teaching labs. Faculty of four increased by one when Dr. James R. Dixon started that same year, and Fishery Science was added to the program. The Freshman class of 1961 included 13 new fishery/wildlife students. Subsequent growth led to the formal establishment of the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Sciences in 1975 (click here to read the announcement in the campus newspaper). Additional positions were added in 1976 and 1977, a replacement and a wildlife extension position in 1978, and two research associates in 1979.

In the Fall of 1981, the Department moved into its present facilities in newly-constructed Knox Hall. Since 1984, the Department has had six teaching and research faculty. In 1989, the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit was established within the Department as a cooperative unit of the National Biological Service, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, New Mexico State University, and The Wildlife Management Institute. The Unit houses three full-time researchers and adjunct faculty plus a variable number of research specialists. It exists to conduct research of interest to cooperators, provide graduate educational opportunities, and provide technical assistance to cooperators. Additionally, there are two extension faculty associated with the Department.

With the departure of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism from Knox Hall to new quarters in 2000, Fishery and Wildlife expanded its complex into the vacated space, now occupied by our professional staff of researchers, and five Graduate Teaching Assistants. A number of former offices off the corridor are currently being transformed into laboratories to keep pace with our growing research commitment.

Since 1990 undergraduate enrollment in the Department has fluctuated between a low of 109 and a peak of 223. Currently there are about 136 majors in the department. In recent years graduate enrollment has varied from about 23 to a high of 34. On average, there are approximately 25 graduate students in our Masters program, plus 7 PhD students who are being directed by our faculty through other graduate programs at NMSU. Approximately 15% of B.S. fish and wildlife graduates have completed M.S. degrees, and 5%, Ph.D. degrees.

Department faculty

Wiebke Boeing 2004-Present
Gary W. Roemer 2001-Present
David E. Cowley 2001-Present
Martha J. Desmond 1999-Present
Donald F. Caccamise 1998-Present
Mark C. Andersen 1994-Present
Diana Weigman 1979-1982
Richard A. Cole 1978-2000
Walt Conley 1977-1984
Raul Valdez 1976-Present
S.D. Schemnitz 1975-1997
Paul R. turner 1972-2002
V.W. Howard, Jr. 1969-2000
Charles A. Davis 1967-1996
Douglas Jester 1965-1977
Fant Martin 1965-1966
James Dixon 1961-1965
John Wood 1959-1969

Wildlife Extension Faculty

Byron Wright 1997-2002
Jon Boren 1996-Present
Jim Knight 1979-1994
Phil Zwank 1976-1978

New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Louis C. Bender 2000-present
Colleen A. Caldwell 1994-present
Bruce C. Thompson 1989-2003
Phil Zwank 1989-1997

Adjunct Faculty

Kenneth Boykin 2007-Present
Robert DuBey 2007
James "Pat" Ward
Harold Steen 2004-Present
Joe Truett 2003-Present
Ulysses McElyea, Jr. 2002-Present
Carter G. Kruse 2002-Present
Jennifer Frey 2002-Present
Jonathan Longmire 2001-Present
Charles Sanchez 2001-Present
Myra Barnes 2001-2003
Gil Gonzales 2000-Present
Walter Whitford 2000-Present
Phillip Fresquez
Eric Rominger 1998-Present
Patricia Arrowood 1997-Present
Fenton R. Kay 1997-Present
Philip U. Alkon 1996-Present
Howard Ness 1991-Present
F. Graham Cooch 1989-2004
Robert A. Tafanelli 1979-2000
Gale Wolters
Sartor Williams, Jr.
Wainwright Evans
James Dickson