The 2021 CNR Spring Seminar Series “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: UWSP’s College of Natural Resources” kicks off with a seminar by Jim Hefflefinger, 1986 UWSP CNR Alumnus and Wildlife Science Coordinator at the Arizona Game and Fish Department. James shares his memories and experiences from a 1980’s CNR, discusses his journey into and through a wildlife career, and provides some valuable “career hacks” for students and new wildlife professionals. James also discusses how the conservation landscape has changed and will continue to change through the years.

Wisconsin Center for Wildlife (WCW) and the College of Natural Resources welcome Justine Hasz, 1999 CNR Fisheries Alumna and Fisheries Bureau Director at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the second seminar in “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: UWSP’s College of Natural Resources.”

Justine shares her exciting journey from Britain to Wisconsin, and through her education at UWSP as a Master’s student in Freshwater Fisheries Management. She shares her experiences as she navigated through her career since her graduation in 1999.

Carrie Rasmussen, 2013 CNR Alumna joins us and shares how working as a Program Assistant at UWSP’s Land Use Education Center in the early 2000s led her to a career permanently protecting land through positions she’s held at non-profit land trust conservation organizations in Maine and Wisconsin. She’ll share how her experiences at UWSP led to her passion for conserving land and prepared her to create and implement long-range plans. She’ll also discuss how her role in grant writing and fundraising now contributes to land conservation programs in northcentral Wisconsin.

Shantanu Pai, 2013 Alumnus of Waste Management, Assistant Sustainability Researcher and Interim Zero Waste Coordinator at the University of Illinois shares how his experiences at while UWSP has allowed him to explore society’s evolving relationship with the materials we choose to keep or discard, and how his experiences have helped him to explore the role materials management practices play in a sustainable future. Shantanu further shares his thoughts on the future of waste management during a casual Q&A.

Omar Mullan, 2020 UWSP Chemical Engineering Alum and Process Engineer, delivers the 6th seminar in the CNR’s 2021 Spring Seminar Series “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: UWSP’s College of Natural Resources.”Omar shares his experiences as a UWSP student and a recent CNR graduate and provides his perspective on the future of the paper industry.

Suzanne Beilfuss, 1988 CNR Forestry Alumna and Industrial Forester, shares how her experiences as a UWSP forestry student during the ’80s and early work experience prepared her for a long-term career as a forester focused on sustainability. She will also share her insight into how the discipline has changed over the years.

The 2021 CNR Spring Seminar Series “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: UWSP’s College of Natural Resources” concludes with our very own CNR Dean Brian Sloss.

Dean Sloss presents “The College of Natural Resources at 50: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going”. He provides a history of the CNR, and highlights the important people who contributed to making the CNR a reality, and ensured the success of this nationally renowned college. Dean Sloss also shares his vision for the CNR into the future, and how the CNR will continue to serve natural resources students and professionals, and remain a contributor to natural resources science for generations to come.