We are pleased to announce that the application period for 2020 Switzer Fellowships is now open! Switzer Fellowships are given to top graduate students in New England and California who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, and who are committed to a career in environmental improvement.
The Switzer Fellowship includes:
• A one-year $15,000 unrestricted cash award;
• Two (required) multi-day leadership training and cohort-building retreats;
• Access to other Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation grant programs and career support; and
• Membership in the Switzer Fellows Network, an active and engaged community of over 650 environmental leaders in the U.S. and around the world.
We continue to encourage more applications from students of color, first-generation graduate students, and those from groups traditionally underrepresented in environmental graduate programs. Additionally, we are interested in receiving as many applications as possible from appropriate Master’s-level programs. (Ph.D applicants are still encouraged to apply as long as there is an applied focus of the applicant’s work, and they can articulate their vision for the near-term application of the work.)
Change to Eligibility Requirements for 2020
This year, as part of the Switzer Foundation’s ongoing work to make our programs and processes more equitable and inclusive, we have made a change to the basic eligibility requirements for the Switzer Fellowship. In addition to U.S. citizens, the fellowship is now open to U.S. permanent residents (“green card” holders) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. (International students are ineligible.) Please help us spread the word about this important update.
As a reminder, Switzer Fellows work in a wide variety of innovative, applied environmental fields and come from varied backgrounds and disciplines (e.g., science, law, policy, engineering). Leadership potential is the most significant factor in our evaluation of applicants, rather than the specifics of a particular graduate research project. We invite you to check out the News and Issues pages of our website for an idea of the breadth of issues and caliber of work our Fellows are doing!
The Call for Applications describes the Switzer Fellowship program and its requirements. Please pass this on to eligible candidates and colleagues, and post to your financial aid, diversity, and graduate student office bulletin boards.
This year’s application deadline is January 6, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard time.
If you have any questions about the program guidelines or the online application process, please do not hesitate to contact Switzer Foundation staff, below. Thank you!
• For eligibility and program-related questions: Erin Lloyd, Program Director – erin@switzernetwork.org
• For technical support with online applications: Laine Kuehn, Administrative Coordinator – laine@switzernetwork.org
• Office: (207) 338-5654 – office hours Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern time)
A vibrant community of environmental leaders
Contact Us
Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation
P.O. Box 293 / Belfast, Maine 04915
207-338-5654 / info@switzernetwork.org / www.switzernetwork.org
Published on November 12th, 2019
Last updated on November 12th, 2019