Get Involved
Show your Hokie pride!
It’s easy and it’s the first step to getting and staying engaged. We want to stay in touch and let you know what’s happening in the college and your department, so please keep your contact information up-to-date.
Connect with alumni and employers, learn about upcoming events, and build your professional network.
Virginia Tech and CNRE host an array of events throughout the year so alumni can connect with friends, network for career success, cheer on the Hokies, and visit the campus that will always be home. Here are just a few to watch for:
CNRE Welcome Back Bash — This annual event welcomes students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends back to campus in the fall.
Networking events — Hokies hit the road every academic year to bring events to you. Events often focus on a particular career field and provide opportunities for students to connect with potential employers.
Graduation Celebration — Each spring we welcome our graduating seniors into the Alumni Association and host a great opportunity to visit with alumni, faculty, and graduating seniors.
GobblerFest - Gobblerfest is an annual involvement fair, generally occuring the first week of classes, to promote connection opportunities with student organizations, departments, and the broader community to kick start students’ journey.
Homecoming Tailgate & Parade Watch Party — Meet us at the CNRE table on the Holtzman Alumni Center lawn to visit with fellow alumni, friends, faculty, and students.
We believe in Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and giving other Hokies a leg up, and there’s no better way to bring the two together than by helping a new graduate prepare for and land that first job — or giving a boost to a more seasoned professional. Plus, you can also make your own organization stronger by bringing in new talent.
Want to hire a Hokie?
We'd love for you to participate in the SBIO department's Packaging Job Expo each spring semester! This career fair is specifically for companies seeking students for packaging jobs. If you want to hire a curent student or recent graduate for a full- or part-time position or an internship, attend this job expo!
If you are seeking to hire a current student or recent graduate for a full- or part-time position or an internship, we welcome your participation in the CNRE career fair each fall semester!
Register and advertise open positions on Handshake. This web-based application connects employers to Virginia Tech students and alumni and is a fantastic tool to help you recruit from among the very best.
Have you met John Freeborn? He is CNRE’s Director of Employer Relations & Career Services and he’s on a mission to connect students with their future employers. Opportunities include campus visits, webinars, and internships. He also manages the "Day in the Life" program, where a small group of students arrange to spend 1-2 days at a business or nonprofit to learn about everything from the future of your industry to the culture of your organization.
If you have questions or are interested in arranging connections with our students, email John Freeborn.
John Gray Williams, CNRE's Director of Recruitment, travels the east coast to recruit high school and transfer students for our degree programs, but he could use your help. If you like talking with prospective students and parents about your college experience and career, you’ve got this! We also need people with connections to high school science teachers and advisors.
If you have questions or are interested in helping us recruit students into SBIO programs, email John Gray Wiliams.
The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials prepares graduates who have the knowledge and skills to make a difference and the passion to want to. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise with current students, check out some of the options below.
Our college’s Leadership Institute allows a select group of students to focus on what makes them tick as leaders and learn from those who have already risen to the top. The group visits Washington, D.C., and select cities in Virginia each year during winter break. Consider hosting these students at your workplace or look for other ways to get involved with this program.
Do you know someone who has graduated from CNRE, made a difference by standing out in their profession, and continues to engage with and serve the college and Virginia Tech? Consider submitting a nomination for these annual awards. You can also nominate yourself!
If you have questions or would like to nominate someone, check out CNRE's Alumni Awards page.
You can make a difference today by giving to the CNRE Annual Fund or your department's annual fund in order to support experiential learning, scholarships, and research. All of these efforts make an incredible impact on our students’ lives.
Questions about getting involved? Connect with Tara Nepper!
If you want to learn more about how you can impact and be a part of the great work that is happening in CNRE, get in touch with Tara Nepper, Director of Alumni Relations. Tara can help you get connected with the right people in the college or the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. We hope you will take part in our ongoing activities or share ideas for new initiatives that suit your talents and interests!
Contact Tara Nepper at tnepper@vt.edu or 540‑231‑5484.
Alumni Award Recipients
Dennis Treacy
Dennis Treacy ’78 has been a dedicated steward of natural resources and conservation throughout his career. A member of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, he served as the director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and in the Virginia Attorney General’s office as an assistant AG in the natural resources section. In 2002, Dennis joined Smithfield Foods where he held numerous positions including executive vice president, chief sustainability officer, and president of the Smithfield Foundation.
True to Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Dennis has dedicated himself to service and leadership. He currently chairs the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, advocating for quality, affordable education to develop future leaders. He has also served as board chair for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, chair of Virginiaforever, and as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. As a member of the 4-H Blue Ribbon Committee, Dennis helped to generate over two million dollars in support for six 4-H Educational Centers across Virginia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
His service to Virginia Tech is extensive, admirable, and ongoing. From 2012-2020, Dennis served as a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. In this position he was instrumental in securing state funding for the livestock barns, which are now operational on the Virginia Tech campus. He served as rector of the board from 2017-2019. In the early 2000’s, Dennis was a member of the first CNRE Advisory Board working to promote and grow the college. From 2004-2011, he served on the steering committee for The Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future.
Dennis’ dedication to sustainability, environmental protection, and his commitment to Virginia Tech make him a truly deserving recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Hugo Mogollon
Hugo Mogollón, is the recipient of the 2025 College of Natural Resources and Environment Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. A 2015 graduate of the Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) program at Virginia Tech, he has made a profound impact on both his professional field and our community.
Since graduating, Hugo has applied the skills he gained at Virginia Tech to lead transformative initiatives in both conservation and food security. Hugo’s work has spanned multiple sectors, from serving as executive director of FRESHFARM and Community Foodworks to forging critical conservation partnerships through his leadership with the non-profit Finding Species.
He has been recognized for his exceptional work in nonprofit leadership with the EXCEL Leadership Award and the David Bradt Nonprofit Leadership Award.
As President and CEO of Galápagos Conservancy, he returns to his roots in conservation, ready to protect one of the world's most iconic ecosystems. His passion for sustainability, resilience, and leadership is matched only by his commitment to lifelong learning.
Hugo has also remained deeply engaged with Virginia Tech, contributing to the XMNR program as a mentor, guest speaker, and sponsor of service-learning projects. His dedication to giving back to the college, sharing his expertise, and inspiring future generations of Hokies exemplifies the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
Bettina K. Ring
College of Natural Resources and Environment Distinguished Alumna Award recipient Bettina Ring ’86 has served and championed the forests of Virginia throughout a 35-year career of leadership and service. Currently the Virginia state director of The Nature Conservancy, Ring has previously served as the seventh state forester for the Virginia Department of Forestry, where she led the agency in collaborative efforts with federal, state, and local government agencies.
In 2018, Ring was appointed by Governor Ralph Northam to serve as the fourth secretary of agriculture and forestry, where she advanced priorities in watershed protection, rural economic development, and food security. A member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and the founding president of the CNRE Alumni Association, Ring has been a tireless and committed supporter of the college’s efforts to protect and steward forest resources throughout the commonwealth.
Daniel C. Patton
Daniel Patton M.S. ’20 is the recipient of the 2024 College of Natural Resources and Environment Recent Alumnus Award. Currently an environmental protection specialist for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Patton has developed programs and policy development relating to natural resources protection and utilization. He has engaged with current students through Hokie Mentorship Connect and has presented to faculty and students through his role as chair of the NASA Natural Resources Council.
Upcoming Events
Missed a webinar? You can still watch the video!
CNRE hosts a variety of informative webinars each semester. Many feature faculty members discussing their research, while others offer career preparation tools for students. Watch any of our past webinars at your convenience.
- Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Conservation in a polarized society: How do we bring people together for the common good, with Marc Stern
April 21, 2022 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - The race to save Appalachia’s giant salamander: the eastern hellbender, with William Hopkins
March 17, 2022 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Citizen science in natural resources: How volunteers are making a difference, with Michelle Prysby
February 17, 2022 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Generation NEXT: Conserve your land and legacy, with Jennifer Gagnon, Karl Didier, and Adam Downing
November 18, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Designing a Sustainable World from Nature's Building Blocks, with Kevin Edgar
October 21, 2021 - Noontime Knowledge with Dean Paul Winistorfer and Brent Keefer, CEO of American Forest Management, Inc.
October 13, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Coastal flooding: Should we stay or should we go, with Anamaria Bukvic
September 16, 2021
- Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - This is Home: Exploring the Trees of Virginia Tech, with Jamie King
May 20, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Who Feeds Birds and Why, with Ashley Dayer
April 15, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Getting Your Deck Ready for Spring BBQs, with Joe Loferski
March 18, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Burning Ring of Fire, with Adam Coates
February 18, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Changing Alpine Landscapes, with Lynn Resler
January 21, 2021 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Importance of Connection: At Home and Across the Globe, with Tim Baird
December 17, 2020 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Rethink Your Holiday Shopping, with Jennifer Russell
November 19, 2020 - Tech on Tap - Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Package Delivery During COVID, with Laszlo Horvath
November 18, 2020 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Things Are Getting a Little Batty, with Mark Ford
October 15, 2020 - Third Thursday Lunch & Learn - Virginia’s Trees and Forests: Eating, Drinking, and Gossip, with John Seiler
September 17, 2020 - Embracing the Big Data Revolution for Shark Conservation, with Francesco Ferretti
August 14, 2020
- Why Conservation Needs Social Science: Understanding the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation
May 5, 2020 - Being Competitive in Today’s Job Market: An Evening with a Recruiter
April 28, 2020 - USAJOBS: Navigation and Tips
April 23, 2020 - Exploring the National Park Service: Careers and Internships
April 21, 2020
Stay connected with the Virginia Tech Alumni Association
Virginia Tech has more than 250,000 living alumni in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. That’s a lot of Hokies, so there are a lot of ways to stay engaged:
- Join your local chapter or an affinity group
- Join the LinkedIn group
- Attend a networking event
- Take advantage of a travel opportunity
- Follow on social media
Jump-start your career
If you’re actively seeking a new position or getting ready in case an opportunity presents itself, Alumni Career Resources can help.