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Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program

 

Become a UC Davis Climate Action Fellow

At UC Davis, Climate Action Fellows are mentored by sustainability staff professsionals to contribute to a variety of new and ongoing projects and activities in support of the campus' sustainability priorities guided heavily by the priorities and policy recommendations provided in the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices.

The 2026-27 Climate Action Fellow application is now open. 
Application Deadline: September 15, 2026

Fellowship Benefits

About the Climate Action Fellows Program

The Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Student Fellowship program engages and energizes students in support of UC’s climate action goals. The fellowship program is funded by the UC President’s Global Climate Leadership Council (GCLC) in support of the President’s Leading on Climate priority. The goals of the fellowship program are to actively engage students in shaping the University’s climate action programs and supporting the University’s aggressive goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating a more equitable, sustainable, resilient and healthy world.

  • Fellows are each awarded $5000. This award amount is divided into three parts and distributed midway through the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters of the fellowship period
    • Important Note: For fellows to receive their award they must be eligible for employment as a UC Davis student assistant. If the fellow is not eligible for employment, it may or may not be possible for award distribution to occur via an alternative means. If you have questions about this, please reach out.
  • Individualized mentorship from UCD or UCDH sustainability professionals
  • Integration into a cohort of UCD Climate Action Fellow peers
  • Professional development and experiential learning opportunities, including leadership training, networking with a Fellows cohort across the UC system, and more.

Eligibility

  • Full-time enrolled UC Davis graduate and undergraduate students  in good academic standing.
  • Applications reviewed on the basis of several characteristics, including but not limited to commitment to and familiarity with climate action principles, collaborative spirit, demonstrated ability to contribute to a team, likelihood to successfully accomplish fellowship project goals, maturity, and attention to detail.

Guidelines & Responsibilities

Fellows are responsible for meeting expectations established by both the UC Office of the President (UCOP) and by UC Davis program coordinator and mentors. See below for a general description of responsibilities associated with both UCOP and UCD. 

UCOP Guidelines, Responsibilities, & Expectations
  • 2026-27 BRLOC Fellow Responsibilities
  • Attend UC-wide events, meetings and trainings, including:
    • A virtual orientation session in the fall of 2026
      • November 13-15, 2026 in person, Santa Cruz mountains. Transportation support and/or reimbursement provided.
    • A leadership training in the fall of 2026
    • A virtual closing symposium and poster presentation in late Spring 2027 quarter
    • Additional activities such as conference calls, GCLC meetings and trainings or cohort building activities
UC Davis Guidelines, Responsibilities, & Expectations
  • Fellowship Period: 
    • Start date: Monday, September 21, 2026
    • End date: Thursday, June 10, 2027
  • Time commitment: 5-8 hours/week on average, with flexibility for periods of both higher and lower weekly work hours
  • Attend Climate Action Fellow cohort meetings; to be held weekly or bi-weekly either in-person or via Zoom depending on participant availabilities
  • Represent UC Davis Sustainability and the Climate Action Fellows program at various outreach, workshop, recruitment, and professional events as dictated by your mentor and/or CAF Program Coordinator
  • Attend meetings with Sustainability staff, stakeholders, community partners, or other fellows as needed

To apply:

  • 1. Submit your application on Handshake. Search for "UC Davis Climate Action Fellow (CAF) - BYA 9920"
  • 2. Review Project Description document 
  • 3. Complete the Application Form
  • 4. Upload each of the following documents
    • Completed Application Form
    • Current resume or CV
    • Current advising transcripts or unofficial transcripts
    • Work Sample
      • Upload your work sample in Handshake under the cover letter upload option
      • What should I submit as a work sample? A 1-2 page example of your previous work that demonstrates writing, communication skills, creativity, or other skills relevant to this position. This work sample should be something you produced for a previous course, employer or other processional context.
      • What if I don’t have an appropriate work sample? Submit a professionally formatted cover letter that describes how your experience and how it qualifies you for this opportunity.

 

Questions? Contact UCD Climate Action Fellowship Program Coordinator & Sustainability Engagement Manager Carla Fresquez at [email protected] 

Current Fellows (2026-27)

  • Kalysta Barrios, Juris Doctor (JD), UC Davis School of Law
  • Judi Eppele, Masters, Community Development Graduate Group (CDGG)
  • Meena Pandey, Masters, International Agricultural Development
  • TBD
  • TBD

Former Fellows

  • 2025 -26
  • 2025-2026 Fellows Project Posters

    Gwyn Azar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

    Kalysta Barrios, Juris Doctor (JD), UC Davis School of Law

    John Cadiz, PhD, Transportation Technology and Policy

    Judi Eppele, Masters, Community Development Graduate Group (CDGG)

    Meena Pandey, Masters, International Agricultural Development

  • 2024-25 
  • 2024-2025 Fellows Project Posters

    Emma Nguyen, Undergraduate, Community and Regional Development, Asian American Studies

    Gwyn Azar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

    Molly McCoy, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

    Siena Reale, Undergraduate, Biological Sciences

    Nikunj Bharta, Master's Student, Energy Graduate Group

  • 2023-24

  • Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

    Anne Saltel, Undergraduate, Community and Regional Development

    Thomas Snyder, PhD student, Anthropology,

    Daphne Condon, PhD student, Energy Systems, Energy Graduate Group

    Kriti Shah, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    JieQi Yan, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

  • 2022-23

  • Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

    Annika Denyer, Undergraduate, Sustainable Environmental Design

    Natalie Kataoka, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    Annika Krueger, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

    Andy Li, Undergraduate, Economics, (Fall quarter)
    Nadiyah Helal, Undergraduate, Civil Engineering, (Fall quarter)

Tags

Carbon Neutrality Initiative Student Fellowship