MES Sustainability Graduate Fellowship 
Position Description

Position Title: Master of Environmental Studies (MES) Sustainability Graduate Fellow 

Reports To: Assistant Director, Campus Sustainability Office 

Hours: Up to 19 hours per week during the academic year. 

Duration: This fellowship is intended as a year-round position during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, with the possibility of Summer employment depending on funding and project needs. 

The fellowship is typically offered during a student’s first year in the MES program. Continuation into a second year may be considered based on student interest, performance, office needs, and available funding. 

Compensation: Starting wages approximately $18.00 per hour. Subject to school policies and available funding, returning fellows may be eligible for an increased wage during a second year of employment. 

Start Date: September 15, 2026 

About the Fellowship 

The Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) formerly the “Center for Climate Action and Sustainability” seeks a graduate student interested in helping advance sustainability initiatives across The Evergreen State College. This fellowship provides hands-on experience working at the intersection of sustainability planning, facilities operations, academics, student engagement, environmental monitoring, communications, and community partnerships. 

The fellow will support sustainability projects that span a broad range of areas including: 

• Climate action and resilience planning 
• Energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives 
• Water and waste management 
• Sustainable transportation 
• Biodiversity and ecological stewardship 
• Campus operations and facilities coordination 
• Community engagement and outreach 
• Sustainability assessment and reporting 
• Student leadership development 

The position offers opportunities to develop professional experience in project management, public engagement, sustainability reporting, facilitation, communications, event planning, and applied environmental problem-solving. 

Required Qualifications 

Applicants must: 

• Be an admitted or currently enrolled Evergreen graduate student. 
• Maintain enrollment of at least four credits during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. 
• Be eligible for student employment under College policies. 
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Be comfortable communicating with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners through email, phone, virtual meetings, and in-person interactions. 
• Demonstrate organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Be able to follow written directions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), guides, and established processes. 
• Be willing to ask questions, seek clarification, and communicate when assistance is needed. 
• Be willing to learn new technologies, systems, and professional skills. 
• Have basic familiarity with Microsoft Office or equivalent productivity software. 

Preferred Qualities and Interests 

The strongest applicants will demonstrate some combination of the following: 

• A genuine interest in sustainability, climate action, environmental stewardship, and/or systems change. 
• A belief that meaningful change is possible through collaboration, persistence, and community engagement. 
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. 
• Strong time-management practices or an interest in developing them. 
• Comfort working both independently and as part of a team. 
• Interest in mentoring, supervising, or collaborating with undergraduate students. 
• Experience (or high interest) with project coordination, event planning, facilitation, outreach, research, or data management. 
• Experience and/or interest in public speaking, workshop development, presentations, or educational programming. 
• Interest in GIS/StoryMaps, sustainability reporting, environmental communication, media production, or related tools. 
• An ability to remain patient and engaged during projects that may involve longer timelines, administrative processes, or periods of slower activity between milestones. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Responsibilities may evolve over time based on campus priorities, student interests, emerging opportunities, and ongoing sustainability initiatives. 

The Sustainability Graduate Fellow may work on the following activities: 

Sustainability Planning, Reporting, and Research 

Support campus sustainability planning and implementation efforts. 

• Assist the Campus Sustainability Office in tracking progress toward institutional sustainability goals. 
• Collect, organize, analyze, and present sustainability-related data and information. 
• Play a significant role in supporting AASHE STARS assessment and reporting efforts, including researching, gathering, and coordinating information from departments across campus. 
• Conduct archival and background research by reviewing historical documents, reports, meeting notes, digital records, and library collections to support sustainability projects, reporting efforts, grant proposals, and campus planning initiatives. 
• Assist with grant research, proposal development, and related reporting activities that support sustainability initiatives. 

Project Coordination and Campus Assessments 

• Support sustainability projects involving energy, waste, water, natural resource management, climate resilience, and campus operations. 
• Track project progress, maintain documentation, and assist with project implementation. 
• Conduct site visits, inspections, observations, and reports related to sustainability infrastructure and environmental initiatives. 
• Assist with ecological monitoring efforts and campus-based environmental assessments. 
• Coordinate with Facilities Services and other partners regarding maintenance concerns, observations, or opportunities for improvement. 

Student Engagement, Education, and Events 

• Assist with workshops, trainings, tabling events, educational programs, volunteer activities, and other sustainability-related events. 
• Help coordinate student participation and leadership opportunities within sustainability initiatives. 
• Collaborate with MESA, MES students, student employees, interns, and other campus organizations. 
• Help mentor and coordinate undergraduate students involved in sustainability projects when appropriate. 
• Support event planning, logistics, outreach, and post-event evaluation. 
• Communications, Outreach, and Digital Resources 
• Communicate professionally with students, faculty, staff, community members, and external partners on behalf of the Campus Sustainability Office. 
• Assist with presentations, reports, educational materials, outreach campaigns, and sustainability communications. 
• Support development of environmental signage, interpretive materials, podcasts, videos, social media content, and storytelling projects as opportunities arise. 
• Assist with development of ArcGIS StoryMaps, sustainability maps, and other digital resources that communicate campus sustainability efforts. 
• Organize project records and documentation using Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and related platforms. 

Professional Development and Representation 

• Participate in sustainability conferences, trainings, networking opportunities, and professional development activities as available. 
• Assist with preparation of presentations, posters, reports, and conference submissions. 
• Represent the Campus Sustainability Office at meetings, events, and regional sustainability gatherings, including opportunities such as the Washington & Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference (WOHESC). 
• Projects may include a combination of office-based work, meetings, event support, and field-based activities. Some tasks may involve walking across campus, lifting supplies or equipment, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions. Reasonable accommodations can be provided. 

How to Apply 

Submit the following materials through Handshake: 

1. Cover Letter. Please address: 
   1. Why you are interested in this fellowship, and how it aligns with your educational, professional, or community goals. 
   2. Mention any relevant experiences, skills, knowledge, coursework, volunteer activities, creative projects, or professional experiences you’d like to expand upon beyond your resume.
2. Resume: Include relevant academic, professional, volunteer, leadership, creative, or community-based experiences. 
3. References: Provide contact information for at least two references. 

Email ClimateAction@evergreen.edu and/or JosephM@evergreen.edu for any follow-up questions!