Almost a year into my time at UNL's School of Natural Resources, I have been provided with enormous challenges and opportunities. The great challenge is that unlike many programs or departments at universities with a well-defined academic focus, the school represents a conglomeration of professions and career opportunities for our students. Compared to many academic units, SNR encompasses a much more horizontal approach, and although natural resources can be a difficult entity to define, we need to try to avoid the problem of "being a mile wide and an inch deep."
Modern universities talk a great deal about interdisciplinary research and education. I think the team in SNR can be proud to represent that model and is way ahead of its time. As we move SNR forward into the future, we aim to advance our mission of providing Nebraska and the rest of society with the broad view of natural resources and its place in society. Whether someone is an applied climate science, restoration ecology or geography major, he or she is part of something bigger: the SNR family. In addition, we believe that once part of SNR, always part of SNR. To all of our alumni and friends, please remember that we have done great things together in the past and we hope to continue to do great things with you in the future.
As we see the mission and function of universities evolve over time, the relationship between SNR and our alumni and friends also must evolve. As you can see, SNR now has an alumni and friends coordinator, Karen Jensen. Please think of her as the person who keeps our extended family connected. We hope to hear from you and please do not hesitate to offer suggestions on how we might keep SNR front and center in natural resources management in Nebraska and beyond.