Cody Byrne
Major: Wildlife ecology and conservation biology with a minor in rangeland management
Year in school: Junior
High school: Mills High School
Clubs and organizations:
Cast & Blast Outdoors Club, Society for Range Management, CABNR Ambassadors
Jobs:
During the school year I work for Dr Dale Holcombe at the UNR Main Station Farm. Over the 2005 summer I was involved with the Tehabi program through Utah State University and worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Elko, NV as a biological technician in the fisheries department. In 2004 I was a watershed worker on the Crystal Springs Watershed in California where we worked on low environmental impact fire prevention projects; the Crystal Springs Watershed supports one of highest densities of rare and endangered species in northern California.
Interests:
When I find away from school I spend most all my time hunting and fishing.
Why UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources?
I transferred from a community college in California to UNR for the fall 2004 semester. I was initially attracted to UNR because of the smaller population along with the many opportunities to work with professors and other students on a wide variety of projects; the lower cost of tuition at UNR was also a determining factor. At the time I knew the direction I wanted to take, fisheries management and research, and after talking with a friend who is a professor in the biology department I found myself as a biology major in the College of Science. I quickly realized this was not the place for me and switched my major to wildlife ecology and conservation biology in CABNR of that semester.
Favorite quote:
"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." –Jack Ward Thomas
Favorite ambassador memory:
Being a new member it would have to be the retreat to Tahoe in January.
Advice for new students: Take the time to find out for yourself what you want to ultimately gain from your college career. If you put in a little effort the multiple opportunities that await you will be outstanding.