Switzer Fellowship Program

Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation

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.

The fellowship includes a $17,000 cash award, leadership training, and opportunities for professional development and grants throughout fellows’ careers as part of the Switzer Network: a vibrant community of more than 700 fellows selected since 1986.

Switzer Fellows are environmental and social change leaders in science, policy, justice, health, economics, advocacy, planning, business, law, and more. Switzer Fellows come from diverse social, academic, and economic backgrounds. They are committed to social equity, interdisciplinary work, applied results, and collaborative leadership.

Department/Institute/Unit: N/A
Institution: Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation
City: Belfast
Country: United States
State/Province: Maine
Program Leader(s): Erin Lloyd
Point(s) of Contact: Erin Lloyd
Contact Email(s): erin@switzernetwork.org
Year Initiated: 1986
Currently Active: Yes
Program Scale: National
Participant Model: Cohort-based
Participant Eligibility: Master’s student, Ph.D. student
Time Commiment for Participants: 60-100 hours
Requirements for Participation: Participation in two in-person retreats
Application Frequency: None
Application Process: Written application, followed by two tiers of application review and Zoom interviews for finalists
Program Recruitment Strategies: Primarily through email outreach to faculty, graduate student offices, student groups, and word-of-mouth from fellowship alumni
Cost to Participant: No
Funding or Support Available to Participants: Yes
Amount or Types of Support Available to Participants (if applicable): Travel costs covered for retreat attendance, three other grant programs available to fellows to help support leadership development goals
Mentorship Model: Informal with fellowship alumni (we hope to create a more formal program in the next few years)
Number of Participants in Program: 20-29
How Program is Funded: Internal
Other Program Partners: N/A
Number of Program Staff: 1
Is the Program Credit Bearing or Credentialing: No
Is there a Program Evaluation Conducted: Yes
Type(s) of Evaluation(s) Conducted: Surveys to the current cohort, and regular surveys to the entire fellowship network which includes alumni