Another semester has concluded and with it came a new batch of graduates beaming with excitement for their accomplishments and eagerness for life’s next steps. Across seven areas within Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, the department celebrated 145 graduates on Friday, Dec. 15th. For all information on the 2023 Commencement Celebrations, visit the University’s Commencement website.

In this series, we featured one student from each of those seven areas of HDNR. Each journey carries a specialness unique to the person and program while showcasing the hustle of how the graduate accrued experience and knowledge along the way plus where they are headed off to next. Katie Nieuwlandt delivered the senior speech for the Warner College undergraduate ceremony. Julia Branstrator immersed herself in a nearby town for her Ph.D. research and will be staying on campus to teach in HDNR next semester. Qian Yusen and Zhao Meng from HDNR’s China-affiliated programs showed how topics such as tourism and protected areas can influence their intended careers in becoming an artist and a teacher, respectively. Cavan McCabe’s back-to-back summer internships in Florida steered her interest in marine conservation and research. Abby Davidson returned to CSU to obtain a Master’s and study her true passion for travel and tourism. Kaitlyn Stabell collaborated with organizations in her capstone project involving Colorado wolf reintroduction initiatives, and those hands-on experiences helped her land a full-time appointment with another conservancy organization.

Take a moment and dive into each of their journeys with HDNR.

HDNR Fall Graduate Highlights Series:
Kaitlyn Stabell from CLTL
Abby Davidson from MTM
Zhao Meng from MTM-China
Cavan McCabe from Natural Resource Tourism B.S.
Qian Yusen from MPPM-China
Julia Branstrator from HDNR PhD
Katie Nieuwlandt from HDNR B.S.