Get Involved

Show your Hokie pride by giving back
Lending a hand is just part of being a Hokie, and there are many ways that you can support the efforts of the college, your department, and current students. Each option is unique and helps makes a difference — just like you! Please note that many events and activities are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
Homecoming Tailgate — Meet us at the CNRE table on the Holtzman Alumni Center lawn to visit with fellow alumni and friends, faculty, and students.
Networking events — Hokies hit the road every academic year to bring events to you. Events often focus on a particular career field or provide opportunities for women to connect.
CNRE New Alumni Launch Party — Each spring we welcome our graduating seniors into the Alumni Association and host another great opportunity to visit with alumni, faculty, and graduating seniors.
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?
Take part in the annual CNRE Career Fair. More than 40 employers and 400 students participate in the daylong event, and there is also a networking reception the evening before the fair and on-campus interviews the day after.
Register and advertise open positions on Handshake. This web-based application connects employers to Virginia Tech students 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 and he’s on a mission to connect students with their future employers. Opportunities include campus visits, as well as the new intensive immersive experience, where a small group of students spend one to two days at a business or nonprofit to learn about everything from the future of the industry to the culture of the organization.
If you have questions or are interested, email John Freeborn, director of employer relations.
CNRE’s director of recruitment travels the eastern seaboard to recruit high school and transfer students for all of our degree programs, but he’s only one person and 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, email John Gray Wiliams, director of recruitment.
Virginia Tech has more than 250,000 living alumni — what a pool of career experts! Many students need a mentor or just someone they can bounce ideas off on an informal basis, so the university offers Hokie Mentorship Connect as a way to tap into this knowledge. You can sign up to be a mentor, participate in flash mentorship sessions, or post on a career-specific message board.
The College of Natural Resources and Environment 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 the options below.
The 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 Richmond and Washington, D.C., each year during winter break, so consider hosting these students at your workplace or look for other ways to get involved with the program.
A variety of speaking opportunities pop up throughout the year and can range from championing diversity and inclusion efforts to highlighting a particular research area. If you have a specific area of expertise and would be able to come to campus, let us know.
If you have questions or are interested, email CNRE Alumni.
Do you know someone who has graduated from CNRE within the last 10 years who has made a difference by standing out in their profession and/or in engaging with other alumni and the college? Consider submitting a nomination for this annual award. You can also nominate yourself!
You can make a difference today by giving to the CNRE Annual Fund in order to support experiential learning, scholarships, and research. All of these efforts make an incredible impact on our students’ lives.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
- Mar 18 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Zoom Third Thursday Lunch & Learn: Getting Your Deck Ready for Spring BBQs, with Joe Loferski
- Apr 15 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Zoom Third Thursday Lunch & Learn: To Feed or Not to Feed Wild Birds, with Ashley Dayer
Missed a webinar? You can still watch the video!
CNRE provides a variety of informative webinars each semester on topics ranging from working for the National Park Service to navigating job search tools. Most are recorded so you can watch any time.
- CNRE Third Thursday Lunch & Learn Series - Burning Ring of Fire, with Adam Coates
February 18, 2021 - CNRE Third Thursday Lunch & Learn Series - Changing Alpine Landscapes, with Lynn Resler
January 21, 2021 - CNRE Third Thursday Webinar Series - Importance of Connection: At home and across the globe, with Dr. Tim Baird
December 17, 2020 - CNRE Third Thursday Webinar Series - Rethink Your Holiday Shopping, with Dr. Jennifer Russell
November 19, 2020 - Tech on Tap: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Package Delivery During COVID, with Laszlo Horvath
November 18, 2020 - CNRE Third Thursday Webinar Series - Things are Getting a Little Batty, with Dr. Mark Ford
October 15, 2020 - Virginia’s Trees and Forests: Eating, Drinking, and Gossip, with Dr. John Seiler
September 17, 2020 - Embracing the Big Data Revolution for Shark Conservation, with Dr. 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.