Sustainability Fellowship

The Sustainability Fellowship at the University of Mississippi is an opportunity for a recent graduate to gain professional experience in the field of sustainability within the higher education context. The Fellow contributes to and participates in the work of the UM Office of Sustainability as well as manages his/her own projects. Depending on interest areas, the Fellow will also have the opportunity to work on sustainability topics including active transportation, waste reduction, energy efficiency, diversity and inclusion and food sustainability. In addition, the Fellow is involved in the university’s comprehensive data collection effort for the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System. .

This fellowship is designed to position young professionals for successful careers in sustainability while also utilizing their skills and talents to further sustainability efforts at the University of Mississippi. The Sustainability Fellowship is a temporary position with a minimum term of one year and maximum term of two years. It is an entry-level position but successful applicants will have some experience in and knowledge of the field of sustainability.

The Office of Sustainability is not currently accepting applications for this position.

Current and Past Fellows

Kendall McDonald, Sustainability Fellow, 2015-2017

In May of 2015, Kendall graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Leadership and minors in Environmental Studies and English.  As Fellow, she focused on change agent education and empowerment, as well as understanding how attitudes, organizational structures, and networks shape sustainability within a community. She is originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where her interest in sustainability began as a love for the outdoors.

“This fellowship represents a unique opportunity to be mentored in professional sustainability, while still providing the latitude to plan independent projects and explore different topic areas. As Fellow, I am trusted to take leadership and responsibility over initiatives while still inhabiting a safe space for learning the ins and outs of life as a young professional. I continually look forward to new experiences as this year’s Fellow, and hope to make the absolute most of this opportunity.”

Kendall accepted a position as the Office of Sustainability’s project manager in November 2017. In her new role she manages the Green Student Intern Program, UM Compost Program and Green Grove Gameday Recycling Program and chairs the Active Transportation Advisory Committee, among other responsibilities.

 

Sara Douglass Lynch, Post Baccalaureate Fellow, 2014-2015

Sara Douglass graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in environmental studies. During her time as Sustainability Fellow, Sara engaged students, faculty, and staff through events and projects relating to active transportation education. In addition to playing a key role in the establishment of the university’s Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Sara managed the office’s first-ever Complete Streets pop-up project and implemented programs and projects that helped the university achieve bronze level Bicycle Friendly University status from the League of American Bicyclists in fall 2015. 

“This fellowship was the perfect opportunity for me right out of school. It provided me with a stepping stone to launch my professional career by providing me with valuable experience. This fellowship is unique in that I was able to broaden my understanding of environmental sustainability, while also delving into a specific topic of sustainability. I would recommend this fellowship to young professionals who are eager to develop professional skills and passionate about environmental sustainability.”

After her fellowship, Sara moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue a Master’s of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech. She graduated in 2018 with a Master’s of City and Regional Planning and a Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering and now works as a Transportation Planner/Engineer at Arcadis.

 

The Office of Sustainability typically begins the candidate search for Sustainability Fellow in May, with the intended start date to fall on August 1. If you are interested in the Sustainability Fellowship position, visit the Department of Human Resources jobs page, or email green@olemiss.edu for more information.