UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture

Why did you choose UNH COLSA? 💬

Congratulations to Mike Simmons, recipient of the COLSA Teaching Excellence Award! 🎉

Since joining UNH in 2017, Mike has taught courses across Natural Resources and the Environment, Forestry, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability, and Wildlife and Conservation Biology. He is known for his passion for applied, experiential learning and for creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn in the field.

When asked what receiving this award means to him, Mike shared:

"I feel very honored to receive this award. I love teaching and it is a great feeling to be recognized by students and colleagues."

One of the things Mike enjoys most about working with students at UNH is their dedication and enthusiasm.

"Their hard work and engagement are inspiring, and I am continually left with a sense of hope for the future."

That impact is reflected in the words of his students. Among the many student nominations submitted in support of Mike's award, one student shared:

"I have attended multiple higher education institutions, and I have taken over 23 classes. And across all of them I would consider Mike to be the best professor I have ever had. He is both professional as well as passionate about his job and his students. He's never afraid to go the extra mile to make sure his students get what they need in their education. I believe that Mike is more than deserving of this award."

Congratulations, Mike, and thank you for your dedication to your students and to experiential learning at the University of New Hampshire.

The photos say it best: wish you were here. 💙

“The first step in learning anything is being curious.”

Meet Vicki Jeffers, Assistant Professor in Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences.

Vicki studies a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which infects about 1 in 4 people worldwide, including in the U.S. It can be transmitted through infected cats or contaminated food, and her lab works to understand how the parasite turns on genes important for its transmission and disease.

In her classes, students explore the biological wonder of parasites, including the remarkable strategies they use to survive and thrive within a host.

Curiosity is at the center of her teaching, and she shares her fascination with parasite biology to help students build their own sense of wonder as they learn.

She hopes students leave her class understanding that science is a universal language. The challenges posed by infectious diseases affect us all, and we must work together to understand and overcome them.

Students might be surprised to learn that Vicki grew up in Ireland and is a huge rugby fan, always trying to catch a Leinster match when she’s home.

You’ll most likely find her in the lab, looking over the shoulders of her graduate students to see what new discoveries they are making.

Happy World Oceans Day!

This week, the United Nations released its third World Ocean Assessment (WOA III).

For the assessment, COLSA’s Dr. Easton White led an international team of scientists to document the diverse impacts of COVID-19 on the world’s oceans. They highlighted the need for investments in data and infrastructure, new partnerships, and nimbler scientific and governance institutions that can respond to future pandemics and other shocks.

🌍 The WOA III is a truly global effort bringing together knowledge from over 550 experts across 86 countries.

🌊 The Assessment highlights how the ocean is changing, why it matters for people, and what’s at stake for current and future generations.

🔗 Explore the findings, share the knowledge and take action:
un.org/regularprocess/woa3

“This is the most incredible opportunity that a donor could offer a student, especially in my area of study. And this is the GSDC making a difference for me. It’s so incredible.”

Lily Woods is the latest recipient of the Granite State Development Corporation Scholarship and is the third student in UNH COLSA to be awarded the scholarship.

The scholarship was created through a gift from the GSDC, a nonprofit lending organization that specializes in the SBA 504 loan program, helping small businesses throughout New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.

She is studying community and environmental planning, sustainability and architectural studies at UNH, with hopes of pursuing a career in environmental planning.

For Woods and her family, the scholarship means the opportunity to graduate with little to no debt while continuing to focus on the work she’s passionate about and the impact she hopes to make through her future career.

“I definitely want to prove them right for doing this; I want to honor their investment in me,” Woods says.

Read more about Lily’s story and the impact of the GSDC scholarship at the link in comments.

What do wildlife conservation, natural resources and earth systems, and computer science have to do with solving deforestation?

Check out the spring issue of Thive to read about the experience of a three-student interdisciplinary team who traded the classroom for Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary last summer.

Through the International Changemaker Grant, they collaborated with the Wildlife Conservation Society of Cambodia to use their diverse skillsets to help map deforestation in this nationally protected area – and contribute to long-term solutions.

Read full story at the link in comments!

Sustainable UNH

Thank you to Jean and Terry Jones ’69 for hosting such a memorable evening at Jones Family Farms for UNH Alumni, incoming students, and friends of the university.

Guests had the opportunity to connect with faculty from COLSA and learn more about the research, innovation, and hands-on work happening across the college — with much of the evening’s food reflecting the impact of that work.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for a special night celebrating community, connection, and the future of the University of New Hampshire. 💙