Mentoring
Mentoring is critical form of teaching that I find highly rewarding. Research and projects introduce students to the scientific process and how to apply that scientific knowledge to engage the community and influence management and policy. This experience is essential to training and preparing students for a career after graduation. It also allows students to apply and build on concepts they have learned in the classroom.
Master of Science in Ecology (MS in Ecology) Students
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Rhyann Lowrey
Hi, I’m Rhyann! After a four-year hiatus on the east coast, I decided to come back to the beautiful Rocky Mountains to pursue my passion for ecology! I am interested in the effects of rock climbing on invasive species and soil health, and what can be done to mitigate climbing areas so that people can enjoy climbing in a healthy ecosystem. My aim is to have recreation and ecology come together to create a sustainable environment for future generations to enjoy! |
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Brittany Phelan
Hi! My name is Brittany and I am a M.S. Ecology student at Western Colorado University. Recently, I became a long distance hiker, completing the 500-mile long Colorado Trail. My research interests are wildlife-human conflicts and recreation impacts on the environment. |
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Alexandra "Alex" VanTill I graduated from Michigan State University in 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology/Plant Biology. For my Master's degree I will be studying the impact of compost additions on soil microclimates of rangelands in the Gunnison Valley. Specifically, I will be assessing how soil microbial communities and mycorrhizal associations influence the potential for carbon sequestration. |
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Jace Cussins
Hi, I am a M.S. in Ecology student at Western Colorado University. I graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2017 with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and Management and a concurrent degree in Environment and Natural Resources. My Master's project focuses on soil moisture and other ecosystem processes in restored wetlands and meadows around the Gunnison Valley. I am interested in how restoration can benefit ecosystems. |
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William Lee
Hello, I am in the Master's of Science in Ecology program with research focusing on Mine Restoration. I have been an employee of the National Park Service for approximately four years, and am taking a hiatus from my career to attend this program. I plan to study the effects of native and nonnative vegetation on the restoration of natural soil conditions in post-mined areas. I am hoping to apply this knowledge to sustainable management of America's federal public lands, particularly in regards to unreclaimed legacy mines. |
Master of Environmental Management (MEM) Students
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Heather Reineking
My project focuses on mine reclamation under the Western Alliance for Restoration Management (WARM) organization. I’ll use a series of three experiments to determine the best combination of limestone and biochar conducive to native plant restoration at the Ben Butler Mine site in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. By establishing native plant growth on site, I’ll reduce the acidity in runoff from waste rock left on the surface after the mining process as well as reduce the likelihood of soil erosion and leaching of heavy metals into the waterways of Colorado |
Undergraduate Students
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Scott LaRocca I’m an undergraduate student in Biology at Western Colorado University. I studied soil carbon and nutrient changes due to managed grazing in a rangeland in Colorado. My research is funded by the Thornton Biology Research Grant and the Western Fund for Scholarly Opportunities, Undergraduate Research, and Creative Expression (SOURCE). |
Graduate Student Alumni
2020
Brady Akins
Alexia Cooper
Haley Horvat
2019
Elizabeth Hartson
Aaron Lewis
Michael Schuster
2018
Jodi Elam
Cameron Ruyle
Brady Akins
Alexia Cooper
Haley Horvat
2019
Elizabeth Hartson
Aaron Lewis
Michael Schuster
2018
Jodi Elam
Cameron Ruyle