Alumni
We fuel Pack pride by creating powerful experiences that connect our alumni, friends, students and partners to NC State — and one another — for life.
Making a Difference
Bolstered by an exceptional education and valuable real-world experiences, College of Natural Resources alumni leave our halls ready to work hard to drive innovation and tackle global challenges that affect us all. They are leading the way in fields like sustainability and conservation, paper science, recreation and tourism, public policy, business, law and environmental science.
Our alumni go far, but many also stay near. They are making North Carolina a better home for all its residents by driving three of the state’s top five industries: forestry, wood products, and tourism and golf.
Stay Connected
The College of Natural Resources is a small community on a big campus. Our faculty, staff and students are a family who learn and solve problems together, support one another and build networks that span the world and last a lifetime.
After you graduate, you remain a valued part of our community. By giving your time, talent and resources to the college, you can support our important work, especially in developing the next generation of natural resources leaders.
Check out some ways you can stay connected with us and with NC State.
Join us in congratulating Drs. Whitney Knollenberg and Rajan Parajuli as the college’s newest University Faculty Scholars. 🎉
Dr. Whitney Knollenberg, an associate professor of parks, recreation and tourism management and a department Extension leader and specialist, focuses on leadership, planning, policy and partnerships that support sustainable tourism development across diverse contexts, including rural tourism, agritourism, food tourism and volunteer tourism.
Dr. Rajan Parajuli, an associate professor of forestry and environmental resources and an Extension specialist, specializes in forest product markets, trade and policy; economic impacts and development in forest-based regions; carbon and bioenergy markets; forest finance and investment; natural resource policy and governance; and social and community forestry.
Every year, NC State’s Day of Giving is a wonderful opportunity for our Pack and friends of the Pack to come together to support our students. ❤️
The College of Natural Resources Enhancement Fund provides support for our greatest priorities, including student scholarships, professional development opportunities, well-being resources and more.
Support current and future students by #GivingPack to the Natural Resources Enhancement Fund on Wednesday, March 25. Click the link in our bio to learn more.
The 2026 #NCStateCNR and @ncstatecals Hot Jobs+Internships Fair was a success! ✨
Thank you to all the students and companies who showed up.
We had a wonderful time with our newly admitted students and their families this past Saturday. We hope to see each of you back here in the fall! 🐺🐾
#NCState30 @applyncstate
Meet Abby Johnson, an NC State alumna passionate about protecting wildlife and preserving natural ecosystems. 🐺🌳
Abby is the recipient of the Carroll and Dawn Mann Wildlife Conservation Scholarship from NC State’s College of Natural Resources. Her passion for wildlife and commitment to conservation have driven her to pursue hands-on research and immersive field experiences. These opportunities have strengthened her understanding of sustainable wildlife management and prepared her for a future dedicated to protecting natural ecosystems.
“My college experience, and everything following it, has been and will forever be changed because of this generous scholarship. I hope to honor Dawn Mann, Dr. Carroll Mann III, and everyone else who came together to help me have this opportunity.”
Click the link in our bio to learn more about Abby’s story.
Meet Nick Librizzi, a senior majoring in sport management at NC State. 🐺📚
Through his leadership with the NC State Icepack, Librizzi is building more than a competitive hockey program. He is creating a culture centered on accountability, discipline and community.
As a student leader, he is helping teammates grow both on and off the ice, emphasizing mentorship, teamwork and personal development. The experience is preparing players for success far beyond their time at NC State.
"I’ve been fortunate to have some once-in-a-lifetime experiences with Icepack, and they are memories I will never forget. The Men’s Basketball Final Four run was the most united I’ve seen the school since I arrived, and being part of that energy was truly unforgettable."
Click the link in our bio to learn more about Nick’s leadership journey.
Join us next Tuesday, March 3, for the 2026 CALS & CNR HOT Jobs+Internships Fair. 💼 🤝
Open to all NC State students; registration is not required. Some employers in attendance include Wake County Parks, N.C. Forest Service, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC Department of Environmental Quality, Bailie Lumber and many more.
⏰ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
📍 Talley Ballrooms, third floor
🔗 See the link in our bio
Last week, our environmental technology and management program held its spring 2026 meet and greet. 👋🐾
The event included networking and poster sessions, where our students had the opportunity to display their experiences within the program.
Mark your calendars for March 25! 📍 Join us in #GivingPack to support #NCStateCNR during @ncstate’s annual Day of Giving.
All money raised on Day of Giving will support student scholarships, faculty research, facility improvements and many more opportunities for the NC State community.
🔗 Click the link in our bio to learn more about how you can participate in this year`s Day of Giving.
Congratulations to the newest members of the #NCStateCNR Pack! 🎉 We can’t wait to meet you, #NCState30. 🐺🐾
Tag @ncstatecnr in your posts (make sure your profile is public) for the chance to be featured on our Instagram Stories.
Our own Dr. Kai Lan, assistant professor in NC State’s Department of Forest Biomaterials (@ncstatefb), has been named a 2025–26 Goodnight Early Career Innovator. 🎉
This prestigious recognition celebrates outstanding early-career faculty in STEM and STEM education. Through this honor, Kai Lan will receive funding to advance AI-enabled sustainability research and strengthen the Sustainability Analysis and Innovation Lab (SAIL) — driving data-driven insights for sustainable industrial systems and the bioeconomy.
🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.
Congratulations to Abby Kidder ‘26 who has been recognized with the John and Joan Markham Tourism Marketing Award! 🎉
The Markham Award, given by the Travel and Tourism Research Association, honors emerging scholars whose work demonstrates strong analytical thinking and a clear connection between research and real-world application in travel and tourism. This is the fifth time a student in #NCStateCNR’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (@ncstateprtm) has received the award.
“Receiving the John and Joan Marketing Award is an incredible honor and a direct reflection of the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management program. I cannot be more grateful for the support and opportunities that have come from my time at NC State.” —Abby Kidder
Last summer, Abby interned at the globally-recognized tourism research firm Tourism Economics. She is also a James Buzzard Leadership Fellow and president of the Tourism Management Association at NC State (@tmancsu).
After Abby graduates this spring, she hopes to find a job that allows her to contribute to research that drives decisions in the tourism industry. Her goal is to use her education and experience to improve data literacy and an understanding of research among tourism destinations.
