STUDENTS / DIANA WALL SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP FELLOWS

Diana Wall Sustainability Leadership Fellows

Build skills, communicate science, and lead sustainability work. 

The Diana Wall Sustainability Leadership Fellows program prepares graduate students at CSU to communicate sustainability research, develop professional skills, and build careers that draw on engagement and interdisciplinary thinking. 

Each year, fellows take part in workshops, trainings, networking, and professional development led by experts from across CSU and beyond. 

For Ph.D. students and postdocs
For Master's students

Choose your path

The fellows program offers two pathways for graduate students. Each is designed for a specific stage of study and a different set of career goals.

For Ph.D. students and postdocs

Year-long – 20 fellows/year – Two-day workshop + 6 trainings – February application

A year-long fellowship for advanced Ph.D. students and early-career postdoctoral fellows conducting research relevant to sustainability science. Twenty fellows are selected each year. The program includes an intensive two-day science communication workshop with the Alda Center, six trainings on career development and leadership topics during the academic year, and a range of networking and professional development opportunities.

For Master’s students

One semester – Career-focused – Not for Ph.D.-bound students

A one-semester fellowship for graduate students pursuing sustainability-focused master’s degrees. The Master’s pathway focuses on leadership and communication skills for careers that apply sustainability across fields and organizations. It is not designed for students planning to pursue a Ph.D.

Explore the program for Ph.D. students and postdocs
Explore the program for Master's students

About Diana Wall and the program

The Sustainability Leadership Fellows program is named for Diana H. Wall, whose work championed the importance of global environmental sustainability and ecosystem health. Her $2.5 million gift to CSU endowed the program and ensures it can continue to support generations of students.

The program equips graduate students to communicate their work clearly, lead across disciplines, and connect their science to the wider world.

Read about Diana Wall's legacy

What fellows learn

Fellows work with experts in science communication and leadership development.

The shared curriculum includes:

  •  An intensive science communication workshop led by the Alda Center
  • Trainings on career and leadership topics, which can include time management, science and policy, online media, interviewing, proposal and grant writing, data visualization, and working on interdisciplinary teams
  • Networking events with visiting scholars, past fellows, and special guests
  • For Ph.D. and postdoc fellows, a communication drill with the CSU Provost

The length, depth, and specific structure of the program varies between the two pathways. See the individual program pages for details.

What past fellows say

"Just months after the SLF program ended, I wrote an article about my science for non-scientists and it garnered national attention. Comparing the quality of my writing to the SoGES blog post I wrote at the start of the program highlights how far the workshops improved my skills, but comparing how I feel about both articles really highlights how much confidence I gained during the fellowship. I'm more excited than ever to find new opportunities to share my science."
MJ Riches
MJ RichesSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2023-24
"I loved participating in the Sustainability Leadership Fellowship. I still regularly draw on the tools from the science communication training, and the time management training changed how I think about tracking my time – and how I advise my own students on how to do this! "
Picture of Megan Jones
Megan S. JonesSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2018-19
"The SLF program has truly been transformative to my career. Now several years out from participating, I regularly engage with media, present to diverse general public audiences, provide feedback on policies, and manage a busy schedule. The SLF program gave me the tools to navigate and succeed in this work."
Picture of Elizabeth Bach
Elizabeth BachSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2016-17

ANGLES Network

The School co-leads ANGLES, a network of universities in the United States and Canada engaged in leadership development for graduate students in sustainability. The mission is to grow the capacity for collective leadership and impact on sustainability by accelerating and improving leadership development in graduate education.
Learn about the ANGLES Network

Advisory Board

The Sustainability Leadership Fellows program is guided by an advisory board of CSU faculty and external partners. The board provides direction on curriculum, partnership development, and the long-term direction of the program.

Timothy Assal
Emily Fischer
W. Chris Funk
Kevin Crooks

For more information: 

Contact Laura Shaver, Communications and Events Manager, at [email protected]

Explore more

Graduate offerings

Graduate certificates and pathways for students working at the master's and doctoral level.
Explore graduate offerings

Courses

Browse the full list of GES and CLMT courses available across CSU.
View courses

Stories and events

Read the latest stories, explore upcoming events, and see how fellows and partners are shaping sustainable futures.
Explore stories and events
"The SoGES fellowship has instrumentally shaped my career trajectory by offering invaluable skills, knowledge, networking opportunities, and insightful perspectives as an early career researcher."
Picture of Faizal Rohmat
Faizal I. W. RohmatSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2017-18
"My experience as an SLF helped me land my dream job working as a Scientist at a major environmental non-profit. I used the communication skills I learned as an SLF throughout the application and interview process, and I rely on the toolkit I developed during the SLF program every single day on the job. Being able to clearly communicate about not only my specific work, but also larger environmental issues and how everything fits together, has enabled me to do work that I absolutely love and to have a much bigger impact than I could’ve without those skills."
Jocelyn Lavallee
Jocelyn LavalleeSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2019-20
"The SoGES fellowship made me reflect on what my goals as a scientist were, which helped inform my transition out of an academic environment. I recently started a new job in the private sector as a Climate Change Analyst: I continue to do climate and sustainability science, but at a faster pace, on a larger team, and with a more applied focus. SoGES helped me realize I was looking to make this change, and provided me with tools and skills that have served me well in my new role."
Zane Martin
Zane MartinSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2020-21
"As I've been preparing for my defense, I've been using many of the skills I gained through the program. It was one of my favorite things about my experience at CSU and allowed me to meet many interesting and smart people, from different disciplines, who I would not have met otherwise."
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlinSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2018-2019
"The program taught me to explore using accessible and inspiring language to communicate about complicated topics in science, including my own research."
Kate Wilkins
Kate WilkinsSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2017-2018
"The SLF program adds a critical, but often missing, component to the toolkit for scientists. As graduate students, we receive vigorous training in the technical aspect of being researchers, but we rarely get taught how to communicate our science to the general public. The SLF experience fills this gap by offering valuable workshops led by subject matter experts. After completing my fellowship, I am confident that I can deliver an impactful and engaging account of my research to any type of audience."
Dhaval Vyas
Dhaval VyasSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2017-2018
"...this Fellowship truly stands out above all others because of the passion of our organizers. As a Fellow, I consistently felt that I was everyone's top priority; I knew that I could depend on any member of the SoGES team to provide me support and honest advice at a moment's notice. Thanks to each of you for making this such a rewarding and life-changing experience!"
Stacy Endriss
Stacy EndrissSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2016-2017
"This program has helped me learn how to better communicate with non-scientists so that they can understand my science and I can understand ways that it's important to their life."
Amy Sheflin
Amy SheflinSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2015-16
"This program gave me the invaluable gift of clearly communicating my work and passion in a way that both scientific and non-scientific audiences can understand and appreciate. I am truly grateful to be a part of the SoGES Family"
Matthew Luizza
Matthew LuizzaSustainability leadership Fellow, 2013-14
"The skills I gained during the program definitely helped in writing my proposal package. I also think that simply being a part of the program was a boon to my CV."
Andrew Tredennick
Andrew TredennickSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2012-13
"The SoGES Sustainability Leadership Fellows program gave recognition and legitimacy to my work."
Debra Kaye Holman
Debra Kaye HolmanSustainability Leadership Fellow, 2012-13