Student Leadership and Organizations

Who to Contact

General questions can be directed to the Academic Affairs Office at cnr_academicaffairs@ncsu.edu or 919-515-6191.

To reserve a classroom for events, defenses, clubs or other activities, please visit go.ncsu.edu/cnr-classroom-reservation.

Council

• The CNR Council serves as the unified voice of all students in the College of Natural Resources. The group is composed of representatives from all recognized student organizations in the college. The council meets monthly to discuss current issues, problems, achievements and concerns, as well as to develop ideas for better serving students. It is responsible for allocating funds each year to the college’s organizations to provide support for various activities. Contact the CNR Council at cnr_council@ncsu.edu.

Ambassador and Leadership Programs

• The CNR Ambassadors are a motivated, student-led organization that serves as a liaison between the College of Natural Resources and the community: prospective students, parents, distinguished guests, alumni and NC State University as whole. The program creates a strong sense of community within the college. They organize and participate in events throughout the university, including Shack-a-thon and Open House. For more information, please contact cnrambassadors@ncsu.edu.
• The Forestry and Environmental Resources Leadership Board creates a welcoming environment for existing students by creating events and programs to enhance and support our current students experience and provide support within the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources and College of Natural Resources. Advisor: Erin Champion
• The James Buzzard Leadership Development Program develops a cohort of upper-level undergraduate student leaders from the College of Natural Resources to positively impact organizations, their community, and the world. Through experiences such as field trips to meet industry leaders and one-on-one coaching sessions, this program prepares students to enter their fields with a grasp of leadership principles and to be self-aware about their strengths and areas of growth. For more information, please contact buzzardleadership@ncsu.edu.
• The Engaging Leaders Program emphasizes hands-on learning, real-world applications, and relationship building with faculty, staff, students and community leaders. The program is open to first-year, off-campus transfer and on-campus transfer students. For more information, please contact engagingleaders@ncsu.edu.
• The PRTM Service and Leadership Club is a student-directed club that provides service to the NC State campus community by taking the lead on community service projects related to student wellness, sustainability, and sport and recreation involvement. It is open to all PRTM undergraduate students without any restrictions based on GPA or year in school. Advisor: Keith Howard

Student Organizations

• The Citizen Science Club works to promote inclusion and expand on interdisciplinary measures in the scientific community. Our bi-weekly meetings feature presentations from guest speakers whose work involves citizen science and may present opportunities for members to be involved in their research or club training and participation in citizen science projects. Advisor: Caren Cooper
• The Environmental Student Association promotes campus environmental awareness and environmental protection. Advisor: Renee Strnad.
• The Epsilon Eta Environmental Fraternity Iota Chapter at North Carolina State University advocates for environmental justice and sustainability at NC State and the surrounding area. We welcome all students who have an interest in the environment and wish to make our communities more sustainable and eco-friendly. Advisor: Dana Thomas
• The Forestry Club is open to all students at NC State, not just students majoring in forest management. The club competes in several forestry competitions throughout the Southeast, including Rolleo, a competition that the club hosts every November. Competitions consist of several physical events such as standing and horizontal wood chopping, men and women’s crosscut sawing, log rolling, axe throwing and archery, as well as others. Forestry-based technical events include wood identification, dendrology, wildlife identification, and timber estimation. Practices are held twice a week. If you are interested in learning more about forestry or competing in collegiate timbersports, you are invited to join.  Connect and learn more on Facebook. Advisor: Steph Jeffries
• The Geospatial Graduate Student Organization is a university-recognized community that supports all graduate students affiliated with the Center for Geospatial Analytics. The organization sponsors professional development activities, social events and service projects, including a partnership with Wake County’s Holiday Cheer program. Advisor: Eric Money
• The Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Student Chapter educates students on emerging issues in water, sanitation and hygiene globally and builds connections with the Global WaSH faculty cluster, nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations in the Triangle. Advisor: Angela Harris
• The Leopold Wildlife Club is an association of students, faculty advisors and wildlife professionals that share a passion for wildlife management and conservation. As the student chapter of The Wildlife Society, we work closely with wildlife professionals at the state and regional levels. Our meetings include workshops and lectures, community service projects, bird walks, herpetology expeditions and the Southeast Region Wildlife Conclave. Active membership is open to students of all backgrounds and majors. Learn more on Facebook. Advisors:Nicole Mihnovets and Chris Moorman
• Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences was chartered in 1998 and is jointly sponsored by the College of Natural Resources and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. We provide students with professional development, community development and personal development opportunities and strive for the inclusion, achievement and advancement of all people in the agricultural sciences. Our activities include community service, collaborating with fellow student organizations, and holding fundraising events such as the bi-annual Fish Fry and the Muscadine Jelly Sale. Advisor: Latisha Judd
• The National Parks Club aims to create a fun welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds to bond over a common interest. This club raises awareness of the importance of national, state and local public lands and advocates for their conservation through volunteering, discussion, hands-on experiences and recreation. By educating members about career paths within environmental action and parks recreation and tourism management, the club builds advocacy skills, networks and guides members interests. Advisor: Lincoln Larson
• The Society of American Foresters Student Chapter is the largest professional society representing foresters and natural resource professionals. The Society of American Foresters Student Chapter has advanced research, education and connections between professionals and students for more than a century at NC State. Our cooperative activities include the spring dinner, hosted and supported by the student chapter, and representation at the Arbor Day celebration at the Raleigh Farmers Market. The student chapter organizes two major trips for students, including the Society of American Foresters National Convention and the regional Appalachian Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. Advisors: Robert Jetton and Gary Blank
• The Student Association for Fire Ecology is a university chapter of the Association for Fire Ecology, an international organization dedicated to improving the knowledge and use of fire in land management, helping to shape the emerging profession and growing the field of fire ecology. The NC State chapter is focused on activities that continue student education and professional advancement in wildland fire ecology. We work with our fire partners in the North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Parks and Recreation and The Nature Conservancy to conduct collaborative training that allows students to participate in prescribed fire crews on NC State’s experimental forests and partner lands. Learn more at @ncstatesafe on Instagram or on Facebook. Advisors: Jenn Fawcett and Elliot Nauert
• The Student Chapter of the Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry (TAPPI) provides a link between the professional, business and industrial areas of the paper and pulp industry and students in the Paper Science and Engineering program in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State. The chapter sponsors annual events and trips; hosts recruiters and employer presentations; provides a forum for student, industry, technical and professional presentations; fosters leadership skills in members; encourages interaction between paper science classes; and encourages its members to serve as ambassadors for the Paper Science and Engineering program within the university and throughout the industry. Learn more on Facebook. Advisor: Med Byrd
• Xi Sigma Pi is the National Forestry Honor Society, which aims to recognize and promote academic excellence in forestry and related disciplines. Membership is by invitation and includes various majors in natural resources. Advisors: Robert Jetton and Gary Blank

Department Clubs and Organizations

• Forest Biomaterials Clubs and Associations
• Forestry and Environmental Clubs and Associations
• Parks, Recreation and Tourism Clubs and Associations

Graduate Student Associations

• The Forest Biomaterials Graduate Student Association  represents and supports the graduate student body in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State. This is accomplished by providing a forum for graduate student opinion, engaging faculty and graduate students in discussion on matters of mutual interest, and promoting professional development and fellowship among graduate students. Advisor: Ilona Peszlen
• The FER Graduate Student Association strives to improve the educational and social experiences of graduate students in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. Advisor: Stephen Griffin
• The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) Graduate Student Association supports students in their course of study and enhances their overall NC State graduate experience by promoting professional development, encouraging scholarly pursuits, and facilitating networking and social endeavors. The organization produces lifelong learners and leaders in a global society committed to developing parks, recreation, tourism and sport resources that improve the quality of life and are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Advisor: Bethany Cutts
• The NC State Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters is a student-run nonprofit organization that acts in concert with the Office for International Programs at the College of Natural Resources to enhance the international perspective of forestry studies at NC State. The organization meets monthly to hear guest speakers and presentations focusing on current research topics. It also organizes annual events, such as conference attendance and a spring symposium. Membership is open to any person with an interest in international forestry and environmental issues. Advisors: Meredith Martin and Erin Sills

Campus Opportunities

For more information about other extracurricular aspects of student life at NC State, check out the Student Organization Resource Center. The center provides information on more than 300 other student organizations. State and national organizations associated with specific environmental interest areas can also provide additional academic, career and social opportunities.