The Center for Climate Action and Sustainability (CCAS) is proud to introduce this ongoing year’s cohort of Sustainability Fellows — a group of outstanding student leaders working to support Evergreen’s sustainability goals, deepen community partnerships, and contribute to climate action initiatives across campus and beyond.
The Sustainability Fellowship is a grant-endowed program that selects two graduate-level students each year to contribute to real-world projects. Thanks to expanded support this particular year, four incredible students were chosen to participate. And, for the first time, the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability is proud to house and grow this program, helping fellows contribute their skills to meaningful environmental and social impact work.
Since its founding, the Fellowship has helped advance Evergreen’s decarbonization planning, land stewardship efforts, energy and building assessments, and sustainability reporting. Fellows have gone on to pursue additional graduate programs, professional roles in the environmental field, and leadership positions in public service and advisory boards.
What the Fellows Are Working On
This year’s Fellows are already deeply engaged in projects that impact both the Evergreen community and the wider South Puget Sound region, including:
- Ecological Restoration and Salmon Habitat Work: Assisting in the restoration of Geoduck Beach by supporting bulkhead removal efforts, creating educational materials about Indigenous stewardship and coastal ecology, and partnering with the South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group and the Squaxin Island Tribe.
- Sustainability Story Maps: Designing an interactive ArcGIS Story Map to showcase Evergreen’s green buildings, programs, and ecological initiatives — a resource for current students, prospective students, alumni, and visitors.
- Career and Green Workforce Research: Interviewing alumni and former interns to better understand pathways into sustainability careers, and developing resources to help future students navigate these fields.
- Climate Education Innovation: Creating new educational programs that use tabletop role-playing games and board games to teach climate resilience skills, environmental storytelling, and coping strategies for eco-grief and climate anxiety.
- External Grant Applications – from a National Science Foundation R212 grant, to the Rose Foundation, and Career Connect Washington, our students have been assisting Evergreen and Non-profits with meeting programmatic funding needs where possible.
- Event Support and Policy Tracking: Assisting with high-profile events like the Rachel Carson Forum, representing Evergreen at regional climate conferences, and tracking emerging climate and energy policies that could influence campus planning.
Need Help with a Sustainability Project?
Our Fellows have availability over Spring and Summer Quarters to assist with feasibility studies, research projects, data collection, grant writing, and project management consulting.
If your department, program, or office could use support on a project related to sustainability, land stewardship, climate action, curriculum development, or green workforce initiatives, reach out! They’re excited to apply their skills to new challenges and collaborations. Email ClimateAction@evergreen.edu to get in direct contact.
Follow Their Work
Want to see more of what they’re up to?
Follow the Climate Center at Evergreen on Instagram, check out our WordPress blog, or sign up for our quarterly newsletter.
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