Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | New Mexico State University
Jay Gogue, Interim President of the NMSU System | New Mexico State University
Niall Hanan, a professor of dryland ecology at New Mexico State University (NMSU), has dedicated his career to understanding the dynamics of desert grasslands. With early experiences as a migrant worker in France and Greece, Hanan developed an interest in agronomy and applied ecology. He joined NMSU's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in January 2017.
Hanan's research primarily focuses on the susceptibility of desert grasslands in the southwestern United States to shrub encroachment. His work also explores the ecology and management of drylands and savannas worldwide. Key areas of his research include climate variability, human management practices such as grazing, fire disturbances, and remote sensing for ecosystem dynamics modeling on various scales.
He leads the Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research program, supported by the National Science Foundation, which investigates why these grasslands are prone to shrub encroachment. "I love the landscapes of the desert Southwest and living in the ecosystems that are the focus of my research," he stated.
In addition to his role at NMSU, Hanan is involved with several scientific boards and editorial teams. He serves on the executive board of the U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research Network and contributes to NASA's Earth observatories' mission science teams. As an editor for Frontiers in Environmental Sciences-Drylands and Environmental Research: Ecology journals, he has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers with support from multiple esteemed organizations.
At NMSU, Hanan teaches a graduate-level course on ecological modeling based on his extensive research experience. The course covers population models before advancing to more complex ecological community interactions in space and time.
Julius Anchang, a research assistant professor at NMSU, praised Hanan: "I have known Dr. Hanan for seven years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor." Anchang highlighted Hanan's influence on his transition from a new Ph.D. graduate to a competent researcher.
This article first appeared in ACES Magazine's fall 2024 issue.
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