The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation identifies and nurtures environmental leaders who have the ability and determination to make a significant positive impact and supports initiatives that have direct and measurable results to improve environmental quality. The foundation accomplishes this by awarding academic fellowships and project grants, sponsoring professional development activities, and fostering a growing network of Switzer Fellows, environmental practitioners, and organizations.
The Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation holds the following values:
- Belief in Individuals. They believe that talented and committed individuals from varied backgrounds can make a difference in this world and create positive change. With funding, training, and engaged networks and collaborations, individuals can achieve greater impact.
- Environmental Stewardship. They seek to protect, improve, and sustain the natural environment for the well-being of people and the planet. Switzer Fellows use science, policy, and public engagement to advance environmental goals.
- Sustainability. They recognize the urgency of living within ecological and physical means and embrace holistic approaches that support and maintain the complexity and interconnectedness of natural and human systems.
- Social Equity and Diversity. They believe environmental progress requires systemic approaches that include social equity and justice as a lens through which we evaluate success. Selecting fellows from a range of social, cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds as well as from varied expertise and professional sectors will build a stronger environmental field.
- Maximizing Impact. They seek to maximize positive environmental impact through individual and collective activities and leverage grant resources. The foundation has an ongoing commitment to promote excellence, increase effectiveness, and adapt to changing needs and circumstances in the environmental field.
The Switzer Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for graduate students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds in New England and California whose career goals focus on environmental improvement. Switzer Fellows demonstrate leadership in their field, as well as commitment and competency to advance social equity as a fundamental part of their environmental problem-solving.
Location:
SwitzerlandBenefits
- The fellowship includes an unrestricted $17,000 cash award paid in two installments, in June and January.
- Fellows participate in two multi-day retreats during their fellowship year focused on cohort-building, networking, and equity-centered leadership and skills development.
Eligibilities
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, or a refugee or asylees according to the definition provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security (international students are ineligible.)
- Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate institution in California or one of the six New England states (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI) and plan to be enrolled for the entire 2024-2025 academic year.
- Applicants must have strong academic qualifications, with academic and career goals focused on environmental improvement.
- Master’s degree candidates (including J.D. students) must have completed at least one semester or quarter of coursework to apply, and they must be seeking a Master’s as their terminal degree.
- Master’s degree students planning to pursue a Ph.D. are advised to wait until they are in their Ph.D. program to apply.
- Individuals enrolled in one-year Master’s degree programs may apply before enrollment but must be formally accepted into their program to be eligible for a Switzer Fellowship interview (held in May).
- Ph.D. candidates must have completed at least three years of doctoral work or plan to have passed their qualifying exams by July 1, 2024.
- Mid-career students are encouraged to apply and must demonstrate how their academic program will enhance their effectiveness as environmental leaders.
Application Process
- Eligible candidates should apply through the organization’s official web portal with the necessary documents.
- The web portal can be accessed by clicking on the “Apply Now” button below
Application Deadline: January 9, 2024
Application ClosedOfficial linkFor Further Queries
For further queries contact: [email protected]
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