INTO THE CLASSROOM, OUT INTO THE WILD

Grants Help Establish New Natural Resources Program at UNM-Taos

By Scott Gerdes, UNM-Taos

Wildlands and the New Mexican way of life are synonymous. Skilled science-based stewardship of The Land of Enchantment’s national forests, waterways, monuments, wildlife refuges, and parks is of upmost importance to residents, visitors, and our state government.

Earlier this year, the University of New Mexico-Taos (UNMTaos) unveiled the LIFT (Leadership in Forestry Training) project funded by a $1 million USDA-NIFA grant that UNMTaos was awarded in 2019. Housed within the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Program at UNM-Taos, LIFT supports students to earn an associate degree in prescience from UNM-Taos and a bachelor’s degree in NRM from a partner institution. UNM-Taos’ primary partner is New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) where students are earning B.S. degrees in Forestry, Geology, or Biology.

UNM-Taos’ Natural Resources program kicked off in 2014. Since its inception, of the 58 students enrolled 24 are first generation, 26 are women, 24 are Hispanic, and 5 are Native American.

USDA NIFA Hispanic Serving Education Grants were instrumental in the inception of the NRM program, first through funds to create the Northern New Mexico Climate Change Corps (CCC) and now through funds for LIFT. Both the CCC and LIFT projects provide students with math tutoring, academic stipends, paid internships, and academic/career advising. All program graduates of the CCC & LIFT projects have full-time jobs in their fields of study. The LIFT motto is “Reach down to lift up.”

“There is a significant mentoring aspect to the grant programming with NRM professionals and students at all levels – reaching down to those below them and helping them take the next step up in their achievement of academic/ career goals,” said Brooke Zanetell, UNM-Taos NRM assistant professor and director, and USDA program director.

Former CCC program participants exemplify such achievement: “I pursued a degree that allows me to hike, hug trees, and enjoy sunshine wherever my heart desires,” stated Daisy Eirich, who earned an A.S. in Natural Resources at UNMTaos, a B.S. in Forestry from NMHU, and is now a full-time Forest Service scientist. Miguel Vigil is another UNM-Taos graduate who earned a B.S. in Forestry at NMHU. He was recently hired as the environmental water quality specialist at Taos Pueblo. The first in his family to go to college, Vigil’s roots made him an excellent fit for the NRM program. “My family hunted, fished, harvested firewood, and grazed cattle. I chose my career path to make a positive impact on the public lands I have enjoyed so much.”

The stipends enabled Manuel Torres to quit his job parking cars at a Taos resort and instead focus on his math and science courses at UNM-Taos. Torres was awarded a coveted USFS Pathways position while working on his associate degree in pre-science. He went on to get a B.S. in Forestry. This opportunity launched Torres into a successful career – he is presently the timber management officer for New Mexico State Forestry Division, Cimarron District.

Though the NRM program is a new offering, enrollment numbers are rising – even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. “Because this program is the right fit for our community, values, and history, I anticipate that UNM-Taos will be able to grow this program substantially over time, greatly increase the number of students we serve, and help place them into meaningful jobs caring for our land and water,” Zanetell said. “These programs are changing students’ lives.”

This work is supported by the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program, grant no. 2019-38422-30210/project accession no. 1020623, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.