CAHNRS Connections March 2026
Newsletter brought to you by CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs.
CAHNRS Three Minute Thesis
This year’s Three Minute Thesis competition showcased some incredible ideas, a testament to the amazing work being done in CAHNRS. Three Minute Thesis is an event where Masters and PhD students compete for scholarships by explaining in simple wording the gist of their thesis idea, an elevator pitch meant for the general populous to understand the importance and gain interest. This skill is something CAHNRS excels at, and our research being shared with the world is something we always strive for.
Participants included:
Masters
- Gabrielle Berger
- Michelle Delgado
- Molly Quade
- Lauren Stubbs
- Nipun Thennakoon
PhD
- Zoe Andersen
- Chase Baerlocher
- Janae Becher
- Hector Botello
- Jeremy Boutin
- Oluwatunmise Dada
- Paulina Echeverria-Paredes
- Mckaela Hobday
- Sharmeen Islam
- Gagandeep Kaur
- Taydin Macon
- Lochana Marasingha
- Swapnika Medikonda
- Sahil Nain
CAHNRS 3MT 2026 Winners
Masters
- People’s Choice:
- Molly Quade with The Future is Fungal: Finding Fungi to Save the Bees, Entomology
- Second Place:
- Gabrielle Berger with From Illness to Impact: Measuring the Burden of Early Calf Disease, BSE
- First Place:
- Lauren Stubbs with The Power of Peaola: Two Crops, Boundless Potential, CSS
PhD
- People’s Choice:
- Paulina Echeverria-Paredes with Enabling Sustainable Aviation Fuel Scale-Up: An Integrated Approach, BSE
- Second Place:
- Taydin Macon with Environmental DNA as a Diagnostic Tool for Honey Bee Overwintering Facilities, Entomology
- First Place:
- Oluwatunmise Dada with Turning Rotten-Egg Gas into Sustainable Fertilizer, BSE
CAHNRS Spirit
Highlighted Event Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
March 23, 2026
March 28, 2026
WSU Horticulture Center
11:00am – 3:00pm
March 28, 2026
7:30-11am, CUB Jr Ballroom/Beasley (Resource Fair) and Johnson Annex C107 (CAHNRS Showcase)
April 8, 2026
Ensminger Pavilion
5:00 – 7:00pm
April 16, 2026
Ensminger Pavilion
5:00 – 7:00pm
Deadlines
April 3rd, 2026
Faculty and Staff Awards
CAHNRS Celebrates National Ag Day
On Tuesday, March 24th, the College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences celebrated National Agriculture Day. Students and staff handed out WSU products such as Cosmic Crisp© Apples, Cougar Gold Cheese, and Ferdinand’s Ice Cream at the CUB.
Multiple boxes of Cosmic Crisp© apples were handed out to excited students, several of which had heard of the Sunflare™ apples and were eager to try those next.
The Entomology department made a celebratory appearance by bringing out a wide range of insects for students to observe and hold, including a very gentle and slow tarantula, a very friendly stick bug, and some cock roaches.
Students had a great time learning and snacking on the WSU products, and it was an honor to be able to spread the word of National Agriculture Day.
CAHNRS Student Recognition
Two of our outstanding students were recognized with a competitive scholarship and an appointment as a vice president:
Sheersa Manna, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Pathology and part of the Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, has earned the competitive WSU Graduate School’s Richard R. and Constance M. Albrecht Scholarship.
Reed Scott, a junior in CAHNRS, Field Crop Management student, is the newly elected vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University. He ran alongside the new student president, Grace Carpenter, in their successful election campaign.
The Cashup Davis Family Lecture Series to Invite Temple Grandin
The first ever installment of the bi-annual lecture series brought to you by CAHNRS and the Cashup Davis family, the Cashup Davis Family Lecture Series invites Temple Grandin to give a talk, “The World Needs All Kinds of Minds” on May 6th at 6:00pm at the CUB Senior Ballroom.
Temple Grandin is an iconic name in Animal Science, advocacy for autism, and an incredible inventor. We couldn’t be more excited to learn from her wisdom and hear her story firsthand. This lecture series will help CAHNRS promote the ideals of excellence in academics, research, and philanthropy, and we welcome all our faculty, staff, and students, other WSU areas that are interested, and the public to attend. There will likely be an opportunity for book signing following the lecture, so feel free to bring your own copy to be signed, as we may have a limited number available.
This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is requested. There will be a recording of the lecture that will be shared following the event, so please stay tuned for that if you are unable to attend in person.
Where?
CUB Senior Ballroom
When?
May 6th at 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Who?
Open to the public
Curriculum Changes in CAHNRS
Congrats to the following programs who have had their curriculum changes approved by the Faculty Senate:
- BS Ag and Food Systems – Ag and Food Business Economics – Revise
- BS Ag and Food Systems – Agricultural Education – Revise
- BS Ag and Food Systems – Ag Technology and Production Management – Revise
- BS Ag and Food Systems – Human Nutrition and Food Systems – Revise
- BS Ag and Food Systems – Organic and Sustainable Agriculture – Revise
- BS Animal Sciences – Accelerated Pre Veterinary – Revise
- BS Animal Sciences – Animal Science, Technology, and Production – Revise
- BS Animal Sciences – Pre Veterinary Medicine/Science – Revise
- Geospatial Analysis minor – Revise
Upcoming K-12 Event – Plant Science Day
Discover the wonders of plants through the interactive activities, cool science demonstrations, and hands-on learning about plant cells, DNA, insects, and more! Perfect for curious kids and plant lovers of all ages!
Ensminger Pavilion at WSU Pullman
455 Lincoln Dr, Pullman WA 99163
FREE Parking, FREE Attendace!
India Consul General Visits WSU CAHNRS
The first Seattle-based Consul General of India, Prakash Gupta, and 5th District Representative. Michael Baumgartner, visited CAHNRS for a tour of our Plant Growth Facility and an excellent afternoon of discussion about the future of agriculture and all the amazing things we do in CAHNRS.
Nominate Someone Today for the Faculty & Staff Awards
Do you have an amazing colleague that makes your work day a little brighter, more productive, or who is really making a difference to the quality of education here in CAHNRS? Do you know a student who goes above and beyond to be an incredible leader or representative of your department? Consider nominating those who make CAHNRS great and give them the recognition they deserve!
Faculty and Staff Awards Nominations are due April 3rd
CAHNRS State of the College Address
Are you interested in learning more about what’s going on in CAHNRS?
Join CAHNRS leadership for a formal State of the College Address, with a reception to follow. All CAHNRS staff, faculty, students, and the public are welcome to join this address in person or via Zoom.
- Highlights on Dean Khosla’s vision, priorities, and progress for CAHNRS
- A look at CAHNRS achievements and the roadmap for the year ahead
- Advancing Washington agriculture, innovation, and student success
State of the College Address:
April 30th, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Johnson Annex C107
or via the State of the College Address Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 980 2128 8988
Passcode: 650192
Reception
April 30th 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Johnson Annex Atrium
Coffee Beans with Deans
Want a chance to visit with Dean Raj Khosla, or one of the associate deans? A great opportunity is the Coffee Beans with Deans event, happening every month available to employees in CAHNRS.
You are welcome to attend to either socialize with the Dean and Associate Deans, and the April 15th session will take place in Lighty 405.
Watch your email for the RSVP links (the April RSVP is included below)!
CAHNRS For All – Call for New Membership
The CAHNRS For All Committee has several openings for new members.
This committee is a vital resource that provides guidance on Access, Opportunity, and Belonging to the dean and supports CAHNRS in fostering an authentic culture of belonging for all. Through resources and support, open dialogue, commitment to creating an intentional community, focus on retention, and living our values, the CAHNRS commitment remains steadfast. All are welcome here.
Membership Opportunities
As a member of the committee, you would meet monthly as well as:
- Participate in inviting speakers
- Work towards retention efforts in the college
- Work with college-wide or localized surveys
- Support the continuation of student multicultural event
- Vote for CAHNRS For All Ribbon awards for departments
- Vote for CAHNRS For All Excellence Awards for Faculty, Staff, and Students
- Have a voice towards change that fosters growth in our CAHNRS values, support for all, and building of community
- Participate in advising the CAHNRS Leadership on values and directions related to Access, Opportunity, and Belonging
How to Join
The CAHNRS For All Committee works to foster innovation, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our work is that of making CAHNRS a safe and inviting place for our faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and all partners of our college.
If you are interested in serving on the CAHNRS For All Committee, please send an email stating your interest and the reasons why you would like to serve to cahnrs.forall@wsu.edu.
Thank you for helping to make CAHNRS a safe and welcoming place for all.
__________
CAHNRS Recruitment Travel – “Where is Junior?”
Junior Gomez, CAHNRS Recruitment & Retention Coordinator, is busy traveling across the state and beyond each week. Stay tuned for the upcoming locations and dates!
3/11
3/18
3/20
3/21
3/21
*Miguel Inzunza will also attend
3/22
*Miguel Inzunza will also attend
3/25
3/31
4/1
4/6
4/16
For any questions, please reach out to ggomez@wsu.edu.
Have a story you’d like to feature in the next CAHNRS Connections Newsletter? Please reach out to cahnrs.majors@wsu.edu with your ideas and information.
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