College of Natural Resources and Environment presents distinguished alumni, student, faculty, and staff awards
Excellence in service, academic achievement, and teaching was recognized at the college's annual awards banquet.
Dean Paul Winistorfer (center) holds a commemorative ax presented to him try the College of Natural Resources and Environment in honor of his service to the college. Photo by Chris Moody for Virginia Tech.
The College of Natural Resources and Environment hosted its annual Spring Awards Celebration in March to recognize outstanding achievements among students, faculty, staff, and alumni during the 2024-25 academic year.
This year’s ceremony featured a special milestone as Dean Paul Winistorfer presided over his final awards event before retirement. In a surprise moment, Winistorfer was honored with the Distinguished Career Excellence Award for his leadership and service to the college from 2001 to 2025. Reflecting his background in wood science, Winistorfer was presented with an honorary axe—a unique tribute to a career that helped grow CNRE from its roots in forestry education to a nationally ranked leader in natural resources and sustainability.
Alumni honors
Dennis Treacy is CNRE's Distinguished Alumnus for 2025
Hugo Mogollan is CNRE's Outstanding Recent Alumnus.
Dennis H. Treacy ’78 received the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of a career devoted to natural resources stewardship and environmental leadership in both the public and private sectors. Treacy earned his degree in forestry and wildlife before going on to study law and serve in state government and corporate environmental roles.
Hugo Mogollon ’15 was named Outstanding Recent Alumnus for his work in nonprofit leadership focused on conservation and food security. Mogollon is a graduate of the Executive Master of Natural Resources program.
Student awards
Chloe Taylor
Megan Dooley
Logan Flanagan
Evan Beall
Chloe Taylor, a senior in sustainable biomaterials, was named CNRE’s 2025 Outstanding Senior. She was one of four students honored as outstanding seniors from their respective departments, along with:
- Megan Dooley, Department of Geography
- Logan Flanagan, Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
- Evan Beall, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
John McGee
Smrithi Satish
The Persistence and Commitment to Success Award was presented to John McGee, a senior majoring in environmental conservation and society. McGee was recognized for academic resilience and perseverance through personal challenges while maintaining strong academic performance.
Smrithi Satish, also a senior in environmental conservation and society, received the college’s first Inclusive Excellence Award for students, recognizing her exceptional leadership and commitment to creating positive change at Virginia Tech and in her field.
The David L. Smith Leadership Award recipients included:
- Acadia Lewis, overall college award and Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
- Morgan Crum, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Akye Johnson, Geography
- Carson Burnette, Sustainable Biomaterials
• Chrishma Perera, Department of Geography, received the H.E. Burkhart Outstanding Master’s Student Awardfor the college. • Kalin Ferguson, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, and Caroline Vickery, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, also received departmental master’s awards.
The Outstanding Doctoral Student award went to Abasali Masoumi, Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. Departmental doctoral honors were also awarded to: • Sami Thomas, Fish and Wildlife Conservation • Sarah Juster, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Graduate students were also recognized for academic excellence:
- Chrishma Perera, from the Department of Geography, received the H.E. Burkhart Outstanding Master’s Student Award for the college.
- Kalin Ferguson, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, and Caroline Vickery, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, also received departmental master’s awards.
The Outstanding Doctoral Student award went to Abasali Masoumi, Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. Departmental doctoral honors were also awarded to:
- Sami Thomas, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Sarah Juster, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
For their contributions to teaching, the following were named Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants: • Charlie Holguin, college-wide and Fish and Wildlife Conservation • Sithuni Jayasckara, Geography • Austin Holloway, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Ryan Chewning, a master’s student in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Teaching Award of Merit Certificate, a top honor awarded jointly by Virginia Tech and NACTA to one graduate teaching assistant from either CNRE or the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
For their contributions to teaching, the following were named Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants:
- Charlie Holguin, was named the top teachign assistant in the college and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Sithuni Jayasckara, Geography
- Austin Holloway, Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Ryan Chewning, a master’s student in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Graduate Teaching Award of Merit Certificate, a top honor awarded jointly by Virginia Tech and NACTA to one graduate teaching assistant from either CNRE or the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Faculty and staff recognition
Tom Hammett, Outreach Excellence Award
Marc Stern, Research Achievement Award
J.P. Gannon, College Certificate for Teaching Excellence and Outstanding Teaching Award
• John Gray Williams, Inclusive Excellence Award • Maryam Kamran, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Mentor Award
Adam Coates won the award as CNRE's Outstranding Graduate Student Mentor
The college recognized faculty and staff members for excellence in research, teaching, mentorship, inclusion, and service:
- Tom Hammett, Outreach Excellence Award
- Marc Stern, Research Achievement Award
- J.P. Gannon, College Certificate for Teaching Excellence and Outstanding Teaching Award
- John Gray Williams, Inclusive Excellence Award
- Maryam Kamran, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Mentor Award
- Adam Coates, Outstanding Graduate Student Mentor Award
- Will Pfeil, Outstanding Staff Award