About Us
GDPE is Ranked Among the Nations Top Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Programs
Community
140+ MS and PhD Students
200+ Faculty members
500+ Alumni
Collaboration
25 Advising Departments
30+ Government Agencies and Affiliations
Support
Science Communications Fellowship
Teaching Assistantships
Research Assistantships
$20,000 in student grants annually
Students and faculty in GDPE are located across the CSU campus, both physically and departmentally, making GDPE sponsored activities an important opportunity to get to know students and other faculty within the program. The program is led by the Director, with the Senior Ecologist providing vision and leadership and teaching in the core curriculum. An Executive Committee guides the program direction; this committee comprises representatives from each of the Colleges, two at-large members and two student representatives. The Director reports to the Deans of the College of Natural Sciences and the Warner College of Natural Resources. The Program Coordinator works with current and prospective faculty and students in the daily operations of the program.
GDPE STAFF

Ruth Hufbauer
Director | email | (970) 491-6945
Contact about:
- Curriculum
- Seminar series
- Budgets
- Alumni relations and development
- DEIJ efforts
- All things GDPE

Alan Knapp
Senior Ecologist | email | (970) 491-7010
Contact about:
Alan is knowledgeable about all aspects of the program. He teaches some core ECOL classes, and represents us within and outside the university.
Jennifer Neuwald
Assitant Director | email | (970) 491-2796
Contact about:
- Understanding the degree plans
- Courses and your committee
- GDPE small grants & GTA's
- Front Range Student Ecology Symposium (FRSES)

Josie Otto
Science Communications Fellow | email
Contact about:
Any ideas or requests for Science Communication Projects
Dawn Koschnitzki
Program Coordinator | email | (970) 491-4373
Contact about:
- Admission logistics
- Understanding forms and procedures
- Overrides
- Website issues
- General help and trouble shooting