Major: Natural Resources Management, Conservation track; Classification: Junior; Age: 22; Organization: Society for Conservation Biology; Hometown: New Braunfels; Month: March 2013

• Reason why you came to Texas Tech: When I was growing up, Kliff Kingsbury was my next door neighbor. I was in sixth grade his senior year playing football for Texas Tech and my family always watched his games. Because I looked up to him so much, Tech was always in my mind as a college I'd like to attend.
• Favorite thing about Texas Tech: I love the location. I'm just a young lady looking for herself in the wide open spaces of the Texas plains.
• Favorite thing about CASNR: The outstanding faculty and countless opportunities for student involvement. Specifically within my department, I've enjoyed Fall quail covey counts through Quail-Tech Alliance, wildland firefighter training through Student Association for Fire Ecology, and trips to our native rangeland and research areas.
• Career Goals: Restoration ecologist, conducting research then making and implementing plans on how to restore degraded ecosystems. I'm also interested in the communication-education side of conservation science.
• What does the honor of being an Aggie of the Month mean to you? When I first switched majors into this college I was hesitant to put myself out there and get involved. Tackling that initial shyness and becoming an active member with NRM organizations has been really rewarding.

Reporting by Elizabeth Bertrand

CONTACT: Cindy Akers, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Programs, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or cindy.akers@ttu.edu

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