Kathryn Rudd loves to learn. Originally from Dallas, she dedicated as much effort and care as she could in all her classes during her final semester at Colorado State University.

While pursuing a degree in human dimensions of natural resources, Rudd took on a new role in her final year on the Warner College of Natural Resources communications team as a news and social media intern. She has written science and research stories and helped design social media campaigns that focused on diversity and inclusion.

Rudd, who wants to work in local community engagement for natural resources after graduation, said she enjoys hearing people’s perspectives on nature.

“I’ve taken a lot of classes on human behavior and the motivations people have for engaging with the environment,” she said. “As soon as I realized I was going to CSU, I wanted to choose a major within the Warner College. Learning how people connect with nature was a big selling point for me.”

Rudd said that everyone’s relationship with nature is different, and those differences help people learn about each other and the world in a deeper way.

Jon Salerno, assistant professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, said that Rudd has a keen ability to tell stories.

“Kathryn does this in a meaningful way, not just in a way that engages the audience, but in a way that compels the audience to care about the issue at hand, to respond, and to make change,” he said. “I see this in every assignment she engages with in the classroom, and in the writing she does for the college. This is the most important quality that we need from environmental and science writing. Kathryn will go on to do great things in her career.”

Rudd graduates with a minor in interdisciplinary environmental affairs and is the recipient of the J.V.K. Wagar Award – honoring an outstanding senior – from her department. She finishes her studies at CSU after only three years, due to dual credit and AP credits she earned in high school.

During her time at CSU, she volunteered at the Environmental Learning Center, which is part of the Warner College. Rudd was also the recipient of the William D. Hatfield, Jr. Memorial Scholarship.