Alumni

“As a Graduate Research Assistant at BRI, I gained comprehensive field and research experience that facilitated a seamless transition into a fulfilling career, all while removing financial barriers to my education.” 

“One of the best aspects of working at BRI is the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an outdoor laboratory—the Trans-Pecos region—while learning and collaborating with conservation professionals.” 

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“I came to BRI when I was looking to start a new chapter in my life and to find a way to start a career in Natural Resource Management. I was coming from a different discipline, so I had a little bit of anxiety starting something new in a new place, but the folks at BRI were all very encouraging and welcoming to me. It’s really been a life-changing experience that I’ll always be grateful for.” 

“There were many great experiences. I feel fortunate to have had so many opportunities to interact closely with wildlife, from birds, to pronghorn, to mule deer, which are experiences that a lot of folks don’t get to have. I helped on a pronghorn fawn survival study that involved spotlighting at night for fawns under the West Texas stars. Moments like that are unforgettable, but so are the moments on the high plains in frigid winter waiting for soon-to-be-translocated pronghorn to be flown in. My wife can still describe how pronghorn smell because she could smell them on my jacket and see some of their hairs stuck to me when I got home from those events.” 

“My time at BRI exposed me to many different facets of wildlife and natural resource management, from habitat management to disease management, to movement and spatial analysis, to communication and all of the partnerships involved with landscape-scale stewardship. This exposure allows for students to find their niche and their passion. I feel fortunate to have been introduced to a broader community of people who care for the land and wildlife and am grateful to be part of that community. It’s often through these relationships that we find ourselves getting employed and building our careers, and that is certainly true for me. My time at BRI helped open these doors.” 

“Working at BRI taught me a lot, but if I had to focus on one concept, it would be community. None of the work would get done without strong relationships with landowners. Additionally, there is such a large partner network from research, outreach, funding, and conservation delivery, that it really takes a lot of folks with good communication and good relationships to get the work done. This broad community of people passionate about wildlife and land stewardship are essential.” 

“The combination of in-house expertise, community, and exposure to concepts and conservation action all come together to give a great mix of hands-on experience, academic opportunities, and relationship opportunities that will go a long way in developing strong conservation professionals.” 

“From wildlife management to plant ID to data management to wild places, BRI offers many avenues for education, experience, and professional development in some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.” 

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“Being a Graduate Research Assistant at BRI refined me personally and professionally. It gave me opportunities to learn new skills, embrace changes, bear responsibilities, and overcome challenges alongside the attentive support of the faculty and staff at BRI. They provide an atmosphere of both positivity and challenge that has made me a better professional and a better human.” 

“I was once asked to help a fellow student complete vegetation surveys for their project at Nine Point Mesa Ranch. Students that individually study vegetation, game birds, big game, and hydrology worked together to complete over 100 large plots of vegetation sampling, and there was not a bad attitude in sight. The work was full of good fellowship, and our spirits were kept high by scenic views, monsoon rains, and the sounds of bugling elk. It was great people doing great things in a great place.” 

“Prior to working at BRI, I was somewhat phobic of technical skills we use in research, such as statistics and programming. Working at BRI immersed me into these disciplines in a way that replaced my fears with newfound interest and enjoyment. I have since gained confidence in both programming and statistics, and my current job as a GIS Specialist requires me to apply both in managing datasets and answering research questions.” 

“Through my time at BRI, I’ve learned that successfully applied natural resource science does not occur in a vacuum. It must be cooperative with and considerate of all relevant stakeholders. Funders, landowners, land managers, state and federal agencies, and scientists all play a role in keeping wild things in wild places. Anytime a conservation initiative succeeds, it is a testament to the power of teamwork.” 

“BRI is set apart by the unique combination of the places and people it connects you to. Far West Texas contains some of the wildest, untrammeled places in the state, and studying them is made all the more special by the people at BRI. The faculty and staff care for students both professionally and personally, while the camaraderie within the student cohort feels more like a family than a workplace. The opportunity to experience truly wild places and outstanding professional relationships is what makes BRI special.” 

“Working at BRI will challenge you educationally, enhance you professionally, and impact you personally. It will steer a pivotal season of your career through Texas’ wildest places and do so alongside great people.” 

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“One of my favorite memories from Sul Ross was when we were trying to recover bighorn sheep collars. We got to fly in a helicopter in Big Bend Ranch State Park, and they dropped us at the top of a mountain. We hiked, did telemetry, and collected the old collars that were gathering data from this really important bighorn sheep translocation research study. Just flying into the sunset after that is a beautiful memory that will be in my heart forever.” 

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“While Sul Ross may be a little far out there, you’ll definitely find yourself wanting to go back after you graduate –  it’s a place that you just don’t want to leave.” 

“One of my favorite memories from when I was getting my masters from Sul Ross was getting to hike up to Hancock Hill with my mom and sign the journal together.” 

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“BRI prepared me for my career by connecting me with networking opportunities – meeting professionals and developing those lasting relationships.” 

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“Sul Ross is so unique. When I got there, I could not believe how different it was and how friendly it was. Changing gears from the urban world to something really rural and beautiful was a fantastic experience. The climate, the people, the landscape, and the university are superb.” 

“My heart belongs to that black bear in Big Bend National Park, that’s what started it all. That experience is was got me wanting to do research in the first place. My research with BRI springboarded me into a really unique situation.” 

“A lot of it was the hands-on focus. I came from a university with very few hands-on opportunities in the undergraduate program, and that changed when I came to Sul Ross. That’s what attracted me and kept me there.” 

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“As a Master’s student with a year under their belt, I am happy to say that I have had the chance to gain valuable experience across different fields and specialties.”

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My favorite memories are of how close-knit our graduate student community was. Sharing meals, going on adventures together, and getting closer to the land and closer to each other. 

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