Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: New Mexico
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

New Mexico Education Activities


Students having fun while enjoying the landscape in the Southwest

As part of our mission, Unit scientists teach graduate level courses, mentor graduate students, offer hands-on experience in the field and in laboratory. The Unit oversees a 2500 sq ft wet laboratory that has been home to over 10 species of fishes. Unit personnel conduct workshops for our cooperators, the University, and the community as a whole. We serve as the Chair and major research advisor on Unit graduate committees and as members of graduate committees throughout NMSU and other universities. By combining teaching, research, and technical assistance, the New Mexico Unit provides students with an opportunity to pursue a graduate degree, but also receive scientific training and extensive hands-on experience.

Students in the New Mexico Unit Program can pursue an M.S. through the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology or a Ph.D. degree through the Departments of Biology and Animal and Range Sciences. Students have the opportunity to design their curricula around their research program. Students with Dr. Pregler generally obtain degrees focused in fish ecology. Students with Drs. Cain and Lawson will obtain degrees focused in areas of wildlife ecology and conservation. An Applied Statistics program at NMSU provides a range of statistics classes and an opportunity to obtain a Minor in Statistics.

Title Instructor(s) Start Date End Date
Wildlife-habitat Relationships Cain August 2019 December 2019
Wildlife-habitat Relationships Cain August 2015 December 2015
Wildlife-habitat Relationships Cain August 2013 December 2013
Wildlife-habitat Relationships Cain August 2011 December 2011
Wildlife-Habitat Relationships Cain August 2023 December 2023
Wildlife Habitat Relationships Cain August 2021 December 2021
Structured Decision Making in Fish and Wildlife Management Lawson January 2023 May 2023
Stable Isotope Ecology Carleton January 2013 May 2013
Special topics: Local flora Bender July 2005 August 2005
Special Topics: Environmental Policy & Management in the Southwest Bender May 2004 June 2004
Population assessment, health, and management Bender August 2006 December 2006
Population assessment, health, and management Bender August 2005 December 2005
Physiological Ecology Carleton January 2014 May 2014
Moddel Selection and Multimodel Inference in Ecology Lawson January 2024 May 2024
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2022 December 2022
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2020 December 2020
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2018 December 2018
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2016 December 2016
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2014 December 2014
Large Mammal Ecology, Management, and Conservation Cain August 2012 December 2012
Graduate problems: Condition and productivity of large mammals Bender August 2005 December 2005
Graduate problems: Advanced Wildlife Habitat Management Bender January 2006 May 2006
Graduate Problems: Wildlife Harvest Analysis Bender August 2006 December 2006
Game Bird Ecology and Management Carleton January 2015 May 2015
Environmental Policy and Management in the Southwest Bender January 2005 May 2005
Environmental Physiology of Fishes Caldwell January 2008 May 2008
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2020 May 2020
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2018 May 2018
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2016 May 2016
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2014 April 2014
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2010 May 2010
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2006 May 2006
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2004 May 2004
Environmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2002 May 2002
Environmental Biology of Fish Caldwell January 2022 May 2022
Enivornmental Biology of Fishes Caldwell January 2012 May 2012
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2021 May 2021
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2017 May 2017
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2015 May 2015
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2011 May 2011
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2009 May 2009
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2005 May 2005
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2003 May 2003
Aquatic Contaminants and Toxicology Caldwell January 2001 May 2001
Advanced Wildlife Management: Mammals Bender August 2004 December 2004
Advanced Wildlife Management: Mammals Bender August 2003 December 2003
Advanced Wildlife Management: Mammals Bender August 2002 December 2002
Advanced Wildlife Management-Mammals Bender August 2001 December 2001
Advanced Wildlife Management Bender August 2008 December 2008
Advanced Mammalogy Bender January 2002 May 2002
Student (Degree) Advisor Start Year End Year
Zummo, Krysten (MS) Carleton 2013 Present
Zimba, Heather (MS) Cain 2022 Present
Whited, Holly (MS) Cain 2024 Present
Threadgill, Courtney (MS) Cain 2016 2019
Strong, Cody (MS) Carleton 2012 2016
Sorensen, Grant (PhD) Cain 2010 2015
Smith, John (MS) Lawson 2021 2023
Small, Brian (MS) Cain 2013 2015
Schweiger, Brittany (MS) Cain 2019 2021
Salas, Marcelo (PhD) Carleton 2012 2015
Rosas-Rosas, Octavio (PhD) Bender 2001 Present
Robinson, Quinn (MS) Cain 2010 2013
Quintana, Nicole (PhD) Cain 2010 2016
Pollack, Emily (MS) Bender 2005 2007
Perkins-Taylor, Ian (MS) Cain 2015 2017
Padilla, Colton (MS) Cain 2021 2023
Overstreet, Matthew (MS) Caldwell 2008 2013
Osterhaus, Dylan (PhD) Lawson 2021 Present
Oakleaf, John (PhD) Cain 2011 2022
O'Connell, Clare (MS) Cain 2020 2022
Millsap, Brian (PhD) Cain 2012 2018
Miazga, Jim (MS) Caldwell 2019 2022
Meyers, Andrew (MS) Carleton 2014 2016
Meliopolus, DeeAnne (MS) Carleton 2014 Present
Lusk, Daniel (MS) Carleton 2012 2016
Lopez-Brody, Nathan (MS) Cain 2015 2021
Lomas, Laurie (MS) Bender 2002 Present
Lichwa, Evelyn (MS) Cain 2020 2021
Leipold, Elizabeth (MS) Carleton 2015 Present
Lawrence, Andy (PhD) Carleton 2012 Present
Kramer, David (MS) Cain 2010 2012
Griffin, David (MS) Carleton 2013 2016
Goljani, Reza (MS) Cain 2015 2017
Forney, Ronny (MS) Cain 2013 2015
Ewald, Megan (MS) Bender 2003 Present
East, Forrest (MS) Carleton 2012 2016
Del Piccolo, Guilio (MS) Lawson 2021 2023
Coxen, Chris (MS) Carleton 2014 Present
Cook, Bethany (PhD) Carleton 2013 Present
Ciocco, Anthony (MS) Lawson 2021 2022
Chase, Nathan (MS) Carleton 2012 Present
Buskirk, Jessica (MS) Cain 2019 2021
Brian, Ramos (PhD) Carleton 2013 Present
Boland, Kelley (MS) Lawson 2021 2024
Boggie, Matthew (PhD) Cain 2014 2018
Boggie, Matthew (PhD) Carleton 2013 Present
Avery, Mindi (MS) Caldwell 2008 2012
Avendano, Jose (MS) Bender 2003 Present