The National Forest Foundation (NFF) believes in the value of matching cutting-edge knowledge acquired in graduate-level studies with practical, hands-on experiences. The Conservation Connect Fellowship Program aligns the NFF's collaboration and conservation work with an experiential education opportunity.

The NFF is striving to meet each Fellow's learning objectives, while also effectively delivering conservation results for National Forests and Grasslands through collaboration. The NFF provides Fellows the opportunity to gain direct experience in a variety of NFF and partner functions, specifically in collaborative processes and on-the-ground science applications.

The Conservation Connect Fellowship aims to build experience, knowledge, and skills to guide the next generation of collaborative leaders in the conservation field. The Fellowships are funded and administered by the NFF, with the NFF and its partner organizations providing a practicum experience for each Fellow.

• Sanober Mirza, a University of Montana graduate student, is working with the NFF Awards team to assess the diversity of applicants to the grants program.
• Shauni Seccombe, a University of Montana graduate student, is working with the NFF Conservation Connect team to conduct an analysis of collaborative groups in Montana and Idaho to identify common themes of needs.
• Kristen Jovanelly, a Yale University graduate student, is working with NFF partner Salmon Valley Stewardship to expand a citizen-driven, rural model of Shared Stewardship in central Idaho.
• Amber Jolly, a graduate student at Cal State LA, is working with NFF staff in California to provide support to the San Gabriel Mountains Community Collaborative.
• Abigail Potts, a University of Michigan graduate student, is working with NFF staff in Colorado to develop an engagement strategy for the Find Your Fourteener campaign.
• Elizabeth Forster, a University of Montana graduate student, is working with the NFF Conservation Connect team to develop a series of peer learning sessions focused on shared stewardship.
• Travis Anklam, a graduate student at the University of Montana, is working with NFF Conservation Connect staff to facilitate the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group.
• Andrew Hursh, a Vermont Law student, is working with NFF Conservation Connect staff to facilitate the Panhandle Forest Collaborative.
• Christopher McKay, a University of Montana graduate student, is working with the NFF Conservation Connect staff the support Partnership on Every Forest project aimed at building partnership strategies on National Forests across the country.

Click here to learn more about the Conservation Connect Fellows program.