THE DORIS DUKE CONSERVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM
The Bren School of Environmental Science and Management is proud of having been selected to participate in the
prestigious Doris Duke Conservation Fellows Program. To be named a fellow is a high honor, and we are delighted to
know that Bren students will be joining an elite group of student leaders nationwide who are committed to pursuing
careers in conservation. The Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship is open to individuals regardless of race, ethnicity,
or gender. We encourage individuals from groups historically underrepresented in environmental conservation to
apply.
Mission
The Environment Program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation created the Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship
Program in 1997 to identify and support future conservation leaders. The Fellowship supports students who are
enrolled in multidisciplinary master’s programs at partner universities, and who are committed to careers as practicing
conservationists.
Through an invitation-only university competition, the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
was recently invited to participate in the program beginning in 2006-07 joining the following seven universities: Yale,
Duke, and Cornell universities, Florida A&M University, Northern Arizona University, and the universities of Michigan,
and Wisconsin.
Not only does the Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship provide financial assistance for tuition, it also cultivates
leadership skills through internships, professional and career development programs, and ongoing alumni networking
activities. To date, the program has supported 300 Fellows, many already making their influence felt in the
environmental and conservation fields. Several have been named Presidential Management Fellows, and others are
employed by such organizations as the World Wildlife Fund, EPA, Nature Conservancy, and the federal Office of
Management and Budget.
Since the mission of the Environment Program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to preserve wildlife habitat
in the United States, it is reasonable to expect that the large majority of Doris Duke Conservation Fellowships (DDCF)
will be awarded to U.S. citizens working on domestic conservation issues. However, due to the increasingly global
nature of environmental issues and the increasing international interaction of environmental leaders, it is also
reasonable to expect that DDCF Fellows may include some outstanding individuals from other countries; that some
new Fellows will spend at least part of their careers working for international organizations and national agencies
outside the United States; and that some Fellows will pursue maritime and transnational conservation issues.
Synopsis
The Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship Program provides fellowships to master’s degree students to facilitate their
goals in careers as practicing conservation leaders. The Bren School may nominate up to five to six students that
seek to pursue studies in environmental conservation issues. Nominations from groups historically underrepresented
in the environmental and conservation fields are strongly encouraged.
The primary criteria for selecting Fellowship recipients will include scholarly accomplishment, demonstrated leadership
capability, a commitment to a career in environmental conservation, and advancement of the goal of increasing
diversity.
The current focus of the Doris Duke Foundation is on habitat conservation in the United States, and the
preponderance of fellows should have a focus that matches that interest. However, the Bren selection committee
defines that interest area broadly (including, for example, large-scale design and planning for conservation purposes,
ecological restoration, environmental education through conservation-oriented nonprofit organizations, conservation
policy, terrestrial ecosystem science or management, or an interest in aquatics if it connects to the landscape scale,
among others).
Eligibility Criteria:
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Be a current 1st year MESM student interested in pursuing a career in conservation and domestic habitat issues
and who will complete their degree during the period between January 24, 2010 through June 30, 2011
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Intend to obtain an internship during their master’s relating to conservation in the United States
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Demonstrate past leadership skills and future willingness to coordinate conservation related educational activities
for the benefit of all Fellows and non-Fellows
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Intend to spend at least part of their career working for international organizations and national agencies outside
the United States
Financial Assistance for each selected Fellow
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation will provide financial assistance in the following areas:
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Approximately one year of fees and GSHIP which can be used from Fall quarter 2010 through Spring 2011 (used
for school tuition only). All applicants must be willing to establish California residency to cover fees.
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Funding for a summer internship ($5,000 per Fellow). Based on the mission of the Doris Duke Environmental
Program, the Internship will focus on preserving wildlife habitat in the United States.
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Funding for Program Development Activities ($5000 total for the group of chosen Fellows). These funds are to be
used for educational activities that advance the careers of Fellows. These activities ideally will be initiated and
directed by Fellows, under the supervision of appropriate faculty or staff. These activities need not be for the
exclusive benefit of Fellows; they also can benefit students who are not Fellows.
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Funding for travel costs for the Doris Duke Conservation Fellows annual gathering. These funds will be calculated
on the basis of estimated travel costs. Woodrow Wilson will cover the costs of the annual retreat itself
(lodging, meals, speakers, etc.)
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Additional Mini-grant opportunities for selected Fellows only include:
Fellows-initiated Career Development activities (up to $2,500) and Alumni Networking activities (up to $5,000).
Once the Fellows are chosen in February 2009, the Student Affairs Manager, will relay all necessary regulations
and paperwork in order to apply for these mini-grants.
Nomination Process:
The Bren School may nominate up to six candidates (yet five are typically chosen) according to the arrangement
between Woodrow Wilson and the Bren School.
Please submit the following materials to Corlei Prieto no later than 5pm on Thursday, December 17th:
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Doris Duke Fellows application set forth by the Bren School
Resume
Typed single spaced short answers to questions on application (10 font minimum)
Signature of consent (on application) for the Bren School Student Affairs office to use all materials submitted for
admission into the Bren School
From the applicant pool, the Bren selection committee will interview the top applicants, and then nominate the
finalists for the Fellowship by the end of February 2010. Final Fellows selection made by the Woodrow Wilson National
Fellowship Foundation will inform the Bren School of selected DDCF Fellows no later the end of April 2010.
For more information about the Doris Duke Conservation Fellows Program please visit the Woodrow
Wilson National Fellowship Foundation website at: http://www.woodrow.org/DorisDuke/index.php
Please do not contact the Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship Program or the Woodrow Wilson National
Fellowship Foundation. All inquiries should be made directly to the Bren School’s Student Affairs
Manager, Corlei Prieto. Thank you