From desert grasslands and arid rivers to mountain forests, New Mexico’s diverse landscapes face mounting pressures from drought, megafires and population growth. To help meet those challenges, New Mexico State Univeristy has launched a new doctoral program designed to train scientists and leaders focused on conserving the Southwest’s fragile ecosystems.
The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences has launched a Ph.D. program in wildlife and fisheries ecology – the first of its kind at NMSU and in the state of New Mexico.
“Our new program fills a critical gap,” said Martha Desmond, department head and Regents professor. “There is currently no Ph.D. program in wildlife ecology or a closely related field offered at NMSU or within the state.”
Faculty developed the program to address both regional ecological challenges and workforce needs. While New Mexico is exceptionally rich in natural resources and ecosystem diversity, the state has lacked a doctoral program specifically focused on wildlife and fisheries ecology and management.
Students in the program will study species and systems found in desert environments, the southern Rocky Mountains, the Intermountain West and the Southern Great Plains. Students will also focus on the restoration and management of desert and semi-arid aquatic ecosystems and grasslands – environments that are increasingly affected by water scarcity, rising temperatures and habitat fragmentation.
“The Southwest is defined by arid landscapes, diverse wildlife and increasingly stressed natural resources,” Desmond said. “This program prepares graduates to conduct research and develop science-based strategies that sustain biodiversity, manage populations of huntable species and species at risk, and restore degraded ecosystems.”
Beyond research, the program will prepare graduates for leadership roles across conservation, policy and land management sectors. It will also train students to support state and federal agencies, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations and industry partners working to manage natural resources across the region.
Research conducted through the program will inform conservation and habitat management decisions while supporting ecosystem services that are especially critical in arid environments, including water filtration, carbon storage and erosion control.
“Healthy ecosystems are essential to quality of life,” Desmond said. “By training future ecologists, land managers and policy advisers, NMSU is contributing to a knowledgeable workforce capable of addressing pressing environmental issues through interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches.”
Hands-on experience will define the student’s experience in the program. Strong partnerships with federal, state and tribal wildlife agencies, nongovernmental organizations and industry will give students direct exposure to applied conservation and management challenges throughout New Mexico and the Southwest.
Students will participate in collaborative research and applied management projects, helping them build professional networks and gain experience directly relevant to workforce needs. These partnerships will also create clear pathways to employment within the state, increasing the likelihood that graduates will remain in New Mexico and contribute to its natural resource workforce.
“This program is about investing in New Mexico’s future,” Desmond said. “By developing scientists who understand our landscapes, our species and our communities, we are strengthening the state’s ability to protect its natural heritage for generations to come.”
A version of this story appears in the spring 2026 issue of ACES Magazine. For more stories, https://nmsu.news/ACES-Magazine-Spring-2026.
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