ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Learn about the research conducted by our graduates and see where they are now...
Name: Jessica Buskirk (she/her)
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Advisor: Matt Gompper
*Co-advised by Fitsum Abadi Gebreselassie
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Thesis: Kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) ecology on the White Sands National Park
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Description: I am estimating kit fox density using SCR models within a Bayesian framework as well as examining kit fox resource selection within the White Sands National Park.
About Jessica: I completed my BS in Wildlife Ecology at Washington State University (go Cougs!) in 2013, and have since enjoyed working with carnivores of all shapes and sizes across the US. My interests in ecological research and management are wide ranging, but I’m especially interested in mesocarnivore movement and population dynamics. I’m also passionate about outreach and education, especially promoting diversity in natural resource fields and providing mentorship and opportunities to young biologists. When I’m not out chasing foxes, looking at cute photos of foxes or thinking about foxes, I really enjoy playing outside, making and eating good food, and snuggling with my cat!
Contact Info: jbuskirk@nmsu.edu
Name: Joanna Ennis (she/her)
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Advisor: Jimmy Cain
Thesis: Identification and characterization of migration routes for mule deer, elk and pronghorn in northern New Mexico
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About Joanna: Joanna is a fourth generation native of the panhandle of Florida where she grew up with a passion for the woods and water. From an early age Joanna is grateful to have worked with various taxa across the country and southern Africa including manatee, red-cockaded woodpecker, northern bobwhite quail, lesser prairie chicken, turkey, bats, fish, small mammals, whitetail, mule deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, bobcat, mountain lion, elk, moose, mountain goat, and various African species.
She earned her BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida as a university-wide top scholar. Joanna’s developed research interests are migration, nutrition, disease, predator-prey interactions, cause-specific mortality, harvest management, behavior, and response to anthropogenic disturbance.
Joanna’s goals as a wildlife professional are to produce ecologically grounded research that could be useful to agency and academic wildlife professionals in their management decisions. Outside of research Joanna enjoys hunting, fishing, horseback riding, backpacking, shed hunting, and training her bird dog puppy.
Name: Kelsie Field (she/her/hers)
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Advisor: Colleen Caldwell
Thesis: Habitat Suitability and Predictive Analytics for informing a Repatriation of an Endangered Desert Fish, Gila Chub, in the San Francisco River, New Mexico.
About Kelsie: Kelsie is originally from Billings, Montana but got her B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, MT. While living there, she had a position with the U.S. Forest Service as a Hydrology Technician, which is where she developed an interest in fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Her niche lies where species and their habitats interface. In her free time she enjoys camping, hiking, shed hunting and making jewelry.
Contact Info: email: kfield@nmsu.edu
Graduated: Spring 2023
Name: Savannah Finch (Perez) (she/her)
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Advisors: Martha Desmond, Fitsum Abadi Gebreselassie
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Thesis: Refinement of burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) translocations in Arizona.
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Description: The goal of this research is to adapt methods for active translocation of BUOW in Phoenix, AZ and assess the effects on survival, site fidelity and pair bonding. The study will focus on translocation timing, captivity time and translocation as pairs (established pairs in the wild or artificially paired). The study species will receive VHF transmitters and be tracked until the following breeding season to determine survival and breeding information.
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About Savannah: I was raised in San Diego, CA, and discovered my passion for animals from working at the San Diego Zoo. I received a B.S. in Zoology from University of California Santa Barbara, then developed a love for avian ecology with my work abroad in Costa Rica and Ecuador. I later worked with burrowing owls in San Diego County, which paved a way for my research at NMSU. I enjoy hiking, birding, scuba diving and embroidering in my free time.
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Interests/experience: Avian ecology, behavioral ecology, parasitology, tropical ecology, telemetry, field skills, GIS, R.
Contact info: srperez@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Fall 2023
Name: Hailey Jacobson (she/her)
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Advisor: Jennifer Frey
Thesis: Distribution and habitat selection by the Organ Mountains Colorado chipmunk
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Description: The overall goal of the project is to evaluate the distribution, habitat selection, and ecological interactions of the Organ Mountains Colorado chipmunk at a landscape-scale using baited remote camera surveys in an occupancy modeling framework.
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About Hailey: I was born and raised in Missoula, Montana and spent my childhood exploring nature, catching insects, and swimming. I received a Sc.B. degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Brown University. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, swimming, amateur birding, and listening to podcasts. One of my hobbies is posting on iNaturalist and identifying stonefly nymphs. I have worked on stoneflies, Greater-sage grouse, and now chipmunks!
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Contact Info: hnj@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Fall 2023
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https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hailey_Jacobson
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Name: Michael W. Miller (he/him)
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Advisor: Colleen Caldwell
*Co-Advised by Zach Klein
Thesis: Population Dynamics and Movement Patterns of MYY Brook Trout in New Mexico
Description: Michael W. Miller is a M.S. student investigating potential eradication of non-native Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis using a combination of manual suppression and stocking of YY-male (MYY) fish. Specifically, he is comparing population dynamics of wild and MYY Brook Trout in Rito de los Pinos, Placer Creek, and Leandro Creek. These data will be used to parameterize an age-structured model and predict the time to extirpation of non-native Brook Trout populations. Michael is also assessing the movement patterns of MYY Brook Trout in relation to stocking method and habitat characteristics
About Michael: Michael W. Miller was born and raised in his home town of Carbondale, Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State University in the spring of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. He has experience working in an array of aquatic habitats, the ability to effectively communicate to stakeholders and partners, and a strong understanding of fisheries science. However, what sets Michael apart is his unrelenting passion for conserving aquatic systems. Growing up in the Rocky Mountains, his family would constantly take him fishing in small tributary streams. This sparked a deep curiosity and affection for freshwater ecosystems. Ultimately, he is committed to pursuing a professional career in fisheries science and driven to conserve our aquatic resources.
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Contact Info: mwmiller@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Fall 2023
Name: Colton Padilla (he/him)
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Thesis Title: Effects of forest fires on the parasites of harvested forest wildlife
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Description: My work is conducted in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico where fire history is robust. I am attempting to quantify if there are any differences in measures of parasitism (prevalence, abundance, species richness, etc.) between areas of differing fire history.
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About Colton: I am originally from Tomé, New Mexico where my family has lived for over 2 centuries. I received my Bachelor's degree from NMSU (Go Aggies!) in 2018. Since that time, I have worked for the Nevada Department of Wildlife doing Bighorn Sheep observational surveys, and I have also worked for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish as the statewide technician helping with anything from shrew trapping to mountain lion camera grid setup to desert bighorn translocations. In my free time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, archery, and watching football in the fall.
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Professional Interests: Game management, ungulate management, educational outreach, R3 program
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Personal Interests: Hunting, fishing, and archery
Contact Info: coltonp@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Summer 2023
Name: Allison Salas (she/her)
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Advisor: Martha Desmond
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Thesis: Nest Survival and Post-fledgling Survival, Movements and Habitat Use of Bendire’s Thrashers (Toxostoma bendirei) in the Chihuahuan Desert
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Description: This research is focused on the breeding biology of Bendire's Thrashers within the Chihuahuan Desert, specifically focusing on the temporal variables and vegetation characteristics impacting the nest and post-fledgling stages of the life cycle.
About Allison: Allison was born and raised in southern Florida. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland (B.S. in Biology with a specialization in Ecology and Evolution). She is an avid birder in her spare time and also enjoys running, biking, and collecting insects to pin. She is a 2020 USFWS Directorate Fellow and is aiming to work with the Service as a refuge biologist after graduation.
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Contact Info: ajsalas@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Summer 2021
Name: Brittany Schweiger (she/her)
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Advisor: Jennifer Frey
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Thesis: Habitat Selection and Activity Patterns by the Organ Mountains Colorado Chipmunk
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Description: My thesis has focused on understanding basic questions about Organ Mountains Colorado chipmunk ecology and activity so that these results can provide the foundation for conservation and management plans. I conducted a VHF radio telemetry study to assess habitat selection and used remote cameras to examine the chipmunks' activity patterns.
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About Brittany: I was born and raised in the Midwest, growing up in St. Louis, MO and attending Lake Forest College (’17) outside of Chicago, IL for my undergraduate degree. I enjoy spending time outside hiking, kayaking, and camping. Since starting at NMSU, I have also grown to love rock climbing and spicy New Mexican food. My research interests include climate change and the conservation of threatened and endangered species.
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Contact Info: bschweig@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Spring 2021
Name: Bianca Sicich (she/her)
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Advisor: Martha Desmond
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Thesis: Conservation of Pinyon Jays in Relation to Forest Management
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Description: My project will be focused on the factors affecting pinyon jay populations in New Mexico and how they respond to different types of forest management. These management practices include prescribed burning and forest thinning. Pinyon jays are currently listed as “vulnerable” by IUCN, mainly due to habitat degradation and loss.
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About Bianca: I grew up in Austin, TX and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. While working temporary field positions after college, I lived in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Florida, while road tripping and traveling in between and as much as possible. One of my lifetime goals is to visit all 50 states. I love visiting new National Parks and plan to visit all 15 NPS units in New Mexico during my time at NMSU. Besides traveling, I also enjoy hiking, birding, reading, practicing yoga, and cuddling with my boxer, Millie.
Contact Info: bsicich@nmsu.edu
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Graduated: Fall 2023
Name: Tyler Wallin (He/Him/His)
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Advisor: Dr. Colleen Caldwell
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Thesis: Recovery of a native Southwestern Trout under threat of wildfire and warming temperatures: An Assessment of Survival and Thermal Limits of Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae)
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Description: The goal of my research was to inform conservation and recovery efforts in the restoration and eventual federal delisting of Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae), an indigenous trout that, at the time, occupied 13% of its historical 600 km range in the Gila and San Francisco drainages of New Mexico and the Salt, Verde, and perhaps Agua Fria drainages of Arizona.
In Chapter 1, my objectives were to characterize laboratory-derived thermal limits of three conservation lineages of Gila Trout, assess if these thermal limits differed among lineages and across size classes, and compare the laboratory-derived thermal limits to current stream temperatures. Managers can utilize the laboratory-derived thermal limits and the established stream temperature network to make informed management decisions of which streams in the Gila Drainage are suitable for Gila Trout recovery.
In Chapter 2, my objectives were to characterize availability and complexity of habitat, estimate abundance, and model survival of Gila Trout throughout a fire affected stream. This study focused on Willow Creek, a stream that was severely affected by the 2012 Whitewater- Baldy Fire in the Gila Wilderness.
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About Tyler: I am originally from a small rural town in Southern Illinois, about 30 minutes east of St. Louis. I great up fishing Missouri’s trout streams with my Grandpa and Dad. I originally started my undergrad at McKendree University with a goal of becoming an Orthodontist, but after studying forests and fishes at the University of Michigan Biological Station after my sophomore year, I found my passion for conservation. I still enjoy fly fishing for trout when I have the chance, and tying my own fishing flies. I had a reputation around the department as a bit of a social butterfly and the guy who brought home baked desserts to every departmental event. I met my fiancé Dylan and grew my involvement in the LGBTQ+ community in Las Cruces during my studies at NMSU. Dylan and I will always call Las Cruces a home no matter where life takes us, it's where we got our dog Smudge, bought a house, and have the support of wonderful family and friends.
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Current Position: I am currently working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office in Arcata, California. I am a Fish Biologist and the Team Lead for the Juvenile Salmon Population Assessment on the Klamath and Trinity Rivers. We utilize rotary screw traps, frame nets, and seining to capture and estimate the juvenile cohort of spring and fall run Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, and Steelhead Trout. Our program also monitors the adult escapement of these species to aid in commercial and tribal take limits. We will continue to monitor these populations through the upcoming removal of four dams on the Klamath River. When completed this will be the largest salmon habitat recovery project ever completed in the U.S., possibly the world.
