Hewitt has been appointed as the president of the Society for Range Management (SRM) Student Conclave, according to a Mar. 16 announcement. She previously served as the conclave’s secretary and will now work alongside students from the University of Idaho, Arizona State University, and the University of Nebraska.
The appointment is significant because it allows Hewitt to represent student perspectives in discussions about rangeland management and to help shape opportunities for students in this field. Her leadership comes at a time when the conclave aims to increase engagement among range clubs beyond its annual meeting.
“My prior experience on the student conclave prepared me for president by allowing me to see how the organization works, how each member contributes to the conclave’s goals and mission, what the SRM student body wants to see, and how we can help them develop scholastic and professional skills,” Hewitt said.
As president, Hewitt will be responsible for preparing budget requests for next February’s annual meeting so that the conclave can host student-oriented workshops and business meetings with other officers. “We also discuss new business, bring forward concerns and ideas from other students and range clubs to SRM leadership, and work to foster an engaged student body within SRM,” she said.
This year’s plans include requesting funding from the SRM board to hire a translator for Spanish-speaking students from Mexico so they can participate more fully in activities at the annual meeting. Additional workshops are being planned to strengthen connections among range students.
“I’m excited to be a voice for range students from across the U.S. and bring forward improvements and student-led activities to the SRM board committee that will benefit future range students’ education and professional growth,” Hewitt said.
During her term, Hewitt also participated as team captain in the Range Cup academic poster competition with teammates Ethan Norris and Jackson Schwartz. Their project examined traditional pastoralist rangeland management practices in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains, focusing on seasonal livestock movement and mixed-species grazing.
Hewitt highlighted that 2026 is designated as the International Year of Rangelands Pastoralists (IYRP), an initiative recognizing rangelands’ global importance. The late Dr. Jim O’Rourke played a key role in having this designation recognized by the United Nations after it was postponed due to COVID-19.
