The Dow Sustainability Fellows co-curricular program brings master’s and professional students from all U-M schools and colleges together to cultivate the next generation of sustainability leaders through hands-on, interdisciplinary project experiences with external partners. The program fosters the development of collaboration, communication, and analytical skills and supports fellows as they tackle the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow, which are highly interconnected, and in need of interdisciplinary, collaborative problem-solving. 

The year-long program runs from January through December. Fellows from across campus are selected and: 

● Provides $25,000 in tuition support 

● Matched with an interdisciplinary team of fellows and an external partner

● Spend approximately 200 hours total on project work with their team and the external partner 

● Provided funding for project travel and other allowable project expenses 

● Attend monthly professional development seminars beginning with a Welcome Retreat in January 

● Write a final project report and present at the Dow Sustainability Fellows Symposium 

The Dow Sustainability Fellowship is made possible by the Dow Company Foundation and is administered by the Graham Sustainability Institute. NOTE: If you are a dual-degree student, you must apply through the department that you are registered with during this fall term.

SEAS Application Process: Students interested in being nominated must complete the following application link https://tinyurl.com/y3wp4bdy no later than 9:00 AM on Monday, October 7, 2024. The SEAS Scholarship Committee will review applications and select up to ten (10) students for nomination to the university-wide competition. Nominees are forwarded to the Graham Institute for final selection. Students selected for nomination will be notified by the Graham Institute with instructions and the deadline for uploading their final application materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

1. A statement (up to 500 words or less): Develop a narrative that addresses the three prompts below and demonstrates your strengths as an emerging sustainability leader:
● Describe your educational and career goals and how this interdisciplinary,
collaborative sustainability experience would be transformative (as
opposed to incremental) for you.
● Describe how your unique experiences, perspectives, and/or skills have
supported collaborative learning and/or the co-creation of knowledge in
an academic or professional setting.
● Describe how you have and/or intend to contribute towards fostering just,
equitable, diverse, and inclusive pathways to sustainability.

2. Curriculum vitae or resume (up to 2 pages) including

● Educational background
● Relevant work experience
● Major awards and honors received (if applicable)
● Publications and presentations (if applicable)
● Service to the community or other relevant extracurricular activities

3. Transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts
are acceptable.