CAHNRS Connections March 2025
Newsletter brought to you by CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs.
March’s Main Event
CAHNRS 3MT
The CAHNRS Three Minute Thesis Competition featured the incredible research of CAHNRS Master’s and PhD students. Told in a succinct manner such that anyone could understand and become engaged in the research, the three-minute presentations of over 20 students included multiple ties and close scores from the four CAHNRS judges. With the largest turnout of spectators in recent history, it is clear there is strong support for the future of research in CAHNRS, and for the students that make the CAHNRS family feel fulfilled.
CAHNRS students exemplified not only strong research ideas, but also their strong personalities and public speaking skills. Having us all both riveted and scratching our heads, even sometimes laughing, in such a short amount of time, it was a refreshing time of hope for the future of academia. This year’s enthusiasm exemplified passion for groundbreaking research, and was a testimony to its ability to blossom across several fields of study in CAHNRS. Thank you to those who judged, including our very own Britta Nitcy from Development, Jacob Moya from Communications, Leslie Edgar from the Office of Research, and Lindsay Hickman from IT. Lastly, thank you to all CAHNRS Faculty and Staff for helping support these students in making their academic dreams a reality. Please see the compilation of winners below, with Camille Wagstaff representing CAHNRS at the upcoming WSU 3MT Competition on March 26th. Visit the CAHNRS 3MT webpage for a full list of participants and winners.
Winners:
Master’s
- 1st Place: Molly Quade (Entomology)
- 2nd Place: S M Hasan Shahriar Rahat (BSE)
- People’s Choice: S M Hasan Shahriar Rahat (BSE)
PhD Students
- 1st Place: Camille Wagstaff (MPS) and Yuan Su (Food Science)
- 2nd Place: Valentina Sierra Jimenez (IBC) and Tana Rayburn (IBC)
- People’s Choice: Bhupinderjeet Singh (BSE)
CAHNRS Spirit
Highlighted Event Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
March 18, 2025
March 22, 2025
March 26, 2025
March 29, 2025
April 3, 2025
April 4, 2025
April 7 – 11, 2025
April 14 – 18, 2025
April 19, 2025
April 22, 2025
April 26, 2025
May 8 – May 10, 2025
Important Deadlines
March 18, 2025
CAHNRS Involvement and Networking Night
Spring Involvement and Networking Night kicked off on February 10th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm in Ensminger Pavillion where students met with 15 industry partners who are specialized in their field of interest. Providing students with the opportunity to network with employers, receive resume feedback, practice answering interview questions, and build their professional development was an invaluable part of what we do to encourage student success.
Students also met leaders in CAHNRS clubs to find which one might be a great fit to join! We provided students with the opportunity to make professional connections and learn about getting involved in our CAHNRS community.
WSU’s Next-Gen Weather Station Upgrade Aids Learning
Full Article by Seth Truscott
Empowering Growers and Educating Students on Climate
Scientists at Washington State University will help Northwest high school students gain hands-on experience in weather monitoring as part of a modernization of the state’s automated weather network.
Funded by $1.5 million from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the project upgrades WSU’s AgWeatherNet, a system of more than 360 weather stations serving farmers and the public, and connects it with educators and students in 15 Washington school districts.
“We want to build the weather network of the future and the next-generation Washington workforce,” said project leader Lav Khot, AgWeatherNet director and associate professor in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
Gathering data statewide every 15 minutes, AgweatherNet collects dozens of metrics, from air temperature, rainfall, and wind speed to humidity and leaf wetness. Shared online and through digital decision tools, this data helps growers know when to water, mitigate cold or heat stress, and manage pests and diseases.
Fostering Hands-On Experiences
“We’re very excited to engage with teachers and students using AgWeatherNet technology, allowing them to explore air quality, drought, wildfire impacts, and other challenges,” said Nancy Deringer, associate dean of Student Success and Academic Programs in WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “This project gives students real-life hands-on experiences and puts them at the controls of a modern weather station. They’ll be able to see how weather data is collected and learn how weather impacts crops grown where they live.”
The project, she added, is an excellent example of how WSU reaches out to communities and inspires student curiosity about future careers.
This Project Builds Great Partnership and Increases Reliability in Data
“State-of-the art hardware means more reliable data for Washington growers and residents,” Khot said. “With it, they can make smarter decisions about farm practices that preserve crops, resources, and human health.”
Fifteen new legacy stations will also be placed at high schools as part of the project, joining 10 existing AgWeatherNet school stations. The WSU team is working with WSDA to identify school districts serving overburdened communities. University educators will then partner with high-school agriculture and science teachers and AgWeatherNet engineers to develop curriculum that helps students and teachers learn about, operate, and maintain the stations.
Providing the Future Generation with Leadership Inspiration
WSDA recently surveyed and interviewed more than 400 farmers on what they need to remain resilient through climate change.
“We overwhelmingly heard that growers want enhanced weather data, better climate projections, and more data-based decision-support tools,” said Dani Gelardi, WSDA senior soil scientist and climate coordinator. “These AgWeatherNet upgrades are an enormous step towards ensuring that Washington agriculture remains viable and vital through current and future challenges.”
Helping crop growers, cattle feeders, and agricultural workers, AgWeatherNet also benefits public agencies in Washington and logs hundreds of thousands of website visits annually.
“Thanks to WSDA, we can now inspire future generation of scientists, growers, and leaders as we put in place tools for better monitoring,” Khot said. “Weather affects everyone, and the more we understand it, the more we can safeguard our economy, environment and health. This work is an important step in that direction.”
SOAR: Student Outreach and Retention
CAHNRS flies high above the status quo with SOAR, a mentorship program designed to foster meaningful connection between student mentees and their faculty, staff, or graduate student mentors. SOAR stands for Student Outreach and Retention, a testament to the CAHNRS mission of helping students who are seeking guidance and support.
Providing such collaboration allows CAHNRS to grow as a community and to ensure students are able to see through their entire degrees under the protective wing of a program that helps them glide steadily through troubling winds. With the opportunity for mentorship comes invaluable educational, social, and professional development opportunity for the students.
See a full list of the SOAR members, meet the SOAR team, explore frequently asked questions, read student experiences, and learn more about the SOAR mission at the What is Soar? webpage.
CAHNRS For All
A Message from CAHNRS For All
The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University reaffirms its unwavering commitment to acceptance of all for who they are. We believe such acceptance fosters innovation, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world around us.
We recognize that recent events may have created feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty among our faculty, staff, students, volunteers, partners, and participants particularly those from underrepresented groups who may feel vulnerable. We want to assure all members of our community that their safety, well-being, and sense of belonging are our top priorities.
CAHNRS supports our people and partners through:
- Resources and support: This may include access to counseling services, support groups, and other resources to help individuals cope with stress and anxiety.
- Open dialogue: We will create safe spaces for open and honest conversations about issues and concerns that may arise.
- Commitment to creating an intentional community: Where differences in identity and points of view are seen as strengths that enhance learning, working, growing, belonging, and thriving.
- Our values: We continue to uphold the values of respect, dignity, and inclusivity in all our interactions and decisions.
The CAHNRS commitment remains steadfast. All are welcome here.
The CAHNRS for All Ribbons
At the core of our commitment to serving traditionally underrepresented communities and underserved populations lies the CAHNRS For All Ribbon System—a dynamic initiative that goes beyond mere acknowledgment. It’s a celebration, an inspiration, and a testament to the profound importance we place on embracing belonging at every level of our college.
Picture the CAHNRS for All Ribbon System as our compass, guiding and propelling us toward a future where processes supporting access, opportunity, and belonging flourish. It’s not just about recruiting and retaining faculty, staff, and students from underrepresented groups; it’s about creating an educational haven in the Pacific Northwest that thrives on inclusivity.
The CAHNRS for All Ribbon System doesn’t stop at recognition; it aspires to weave access, opportunity, and belonging into the very fabric of our college and WSU. Here, differences aren’t obstacles, they’re bridges to understanding and creativity.
CAHNRS Operations – Seed Award
In Fall of 2024, CAHNRS Operations were awarded with the first CAHNRS for All Ribbon Award, the Seed Award. Their establishment of a dedicated CAHNRS For All Committee within their department, equip with a committee charter providing them guidelines, was an testament to their hard work in building inclusivity in their department. At every level of the unit, they engage in access-related activities such as search committee trainings and professional development workshops focused on working with brain differences. Their work in shaping their unit to seamlessly harness the full spectrum of human talents, while respecting and celebrating human differences, is exemplary of a ribbon award.
Crop & Soil Sciences and Entomology
We are pleased to announce that in 2025 we have two new awarded departments joining the ranks: Crop and Soil Sciences, and Entomology. Exemplifying great efforts towards furthering access, opportunity, and belonging in their areas, both departments were found by the CAHNRS For All Committee to have met the requirements for the Seed Award. The recipients engaged in the creation of a committee focused on access, opportunity, and belonging for their department, established a committee charter, participated in activities and events, established their written community norms, and exemplified involvement at all levels of the unit.
You can learn more about the CAHNRS for All Ribbon System, and apply any time of year by sending your application to cahnrs.forall@wsu.edu.
Building CAHNRS for All Series: Beyond the Binary
Beyond the Binary with Anna EldenBrady is a fast-paced, fascinating, and joyful session on the history and language of identities beyond the binary. Join us in celebration of Trans Day of Visibility, and gain a deeper understanding of the background and use of pronouns.
This event will be held over Zoom for CAHNRS employees, so please find the Zoom link in an email or contact cahnrs.forall@wsu.edu.
CAHNRS Monthly Get Togethers
Join CAHNRS for All and Dr. Luz María Gordillo in celebrating various heritage months and identity recognition days in an informative, fun, sharing environment. This monthly Zoom event offers a safe space welcome to any employee in CAHNRS, with care packages if you RSVP ahead. Learn more about recognition months on our Heritage Month and Identity Recognition page, and check your email or reach out cahnrs.forall@wsu.edu to learn how to attend.
‘Open’ Meetings with Dr. Luz María Gordillo
If you’re looking for a safe space in the CAHNRS community to connect and share whatever is on your mind, whether it’s work-related, something personal, or just a general thought you want to share, join Dr. Gordillo every Thursday from 11:00am to 12:00pm for a judgement-free atmosphere over Zoom. Come chat, listen, and support one another.
Check our CAHNRS Events page linked below to see if there is something you are interested in attending.
Student Awards 2025
Student Awards will take place on April 3rd, 2025 in Ensminger Pavilion from 5PM to 7PM. Thank you to everyone who is serving on a committee to help recognize the hard work of our students.
Stay tuned for more announcements about this year’s fun theme.
CAHNRS Faculty & Staff Awards
Nominations due March 18th
We encourage everyone to support their colleagues’ incredible hard work and outstanding contributions at this year’s Faculty and Staff Awards. The nomination process has already begun, and the deadline has been extended to Tuesday March 18th, 2025. Please visit the Faculty and Staff Awards page on the Academics website for any updates.
Your participation in recognizing the outstanding contributions of your peers is highly valued, and this is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge a well-deserving colleague.
If you have any questions, please contact the CAHNRS Dean’s Office at cahnrs.deans@wsu.edu.
Awards Ceremony – April 22nd
An afternoon of recognition for some of the Faculty and Staff who make CAHNRS great. Recipients of each of 14 incredible awards will be presented, along with
an additional recognition award, the CAHNRS For All Ribbon Award, which will be presented for the first time ever.
The event will be on April 22nd from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in Ensminger Pavilion. All CAHNRS employees and their guests who wish to attend are welcome, including but not limited to the recipients and their guests. Light refreshments will be served.
Stay tuned for an RSVP link closer to the event.
The CAHNRS Faculty and Staff Awards poster featuring red fabric background, red-and-gold balloons, and a banner that says “April 22nd, 2025”.
CAHNRS Internship Program
CAHNRS Student Success and Academic Programs, Research, and Extension are offering a wide variety of faculty and staff led internships this summer! All CAHNRS students are eligible to apply. They will receive course credit and get paid for this hands-on learning experience!
For questions, please reach out to our Internship Coordinator, Judy Hopkins
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