Next-Gen Scholars Program

Empowering Tomorrow's Environmental Leaders

Graphic of the three pillars of the Next-Gen Scholars Program: Engaged Learning, Extensive Support, Extraordinary Community

The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Next-Gen Scholars program offers first-year MS/MLA students access to strengths-based support and the opportunity to be part of a small cohort across SEAS specializations.

Cohort members have unique backgrounds as first-generation students, Pell Grant recipients, and come from educational, cultural, or geographic backgrounds that are underrepresented in SEAS graduate studies. The students in the program have an interest in consciously contributing to diversity, equity and inclusion both at SEAS and in the professional world of sustainability.

The program has been designed to help scholars develop their personal potential while building a reliable and supportive community—the start of a growing professional network. It also offers a mentorship component, which has been designed to help students chart their paths to realize aspirations, allowing them to build a lasting relationship with someone who can help them grow both personally and as professionals in the environmental and sustainability fields. SEAS welcomed the first cohort of NextGen Scholars in the fall of 2022.

I've really enjoyed being able to connect with other non-traditional students. Knowing that I have that support network available to me has been so helpful as I navigate the challenges grad school presents.

Next-Gen Scholar

I appreciate the community and feel supported by all of the staff. It has been amazing to have an even smaller cohort of folks across specializations to build community with as a first year student.

Next-Gen Scholar

Next-Gen Scholars Cohorts

Fall of 2024 NextGen Scholars Cohort

Milan Anderson, Ecosystem and Science Management
Eleanor Aro, Environmental Justice
Coral Avery, Environmental Justice
Joe Bailey, Landscape Architecture
Kristen Bashen, Environmental Policy and Planning
Alessia Bernocco, Sustainable Systems
Zoe Bishop, Environmental Justice
Myrcella Bowen, Environmental Justice
Tyler Bunday, Environmental Justice
Kelsey Jones Campana, Ecosystem and Science Management
Zach Cavanaugh, Ecosystem and Science Management
Nayomi Cawthorne, Sustainability and Development
Alina DeVoogd, Ecosystem and Science Management
Dunya Diyadawagamage, Sustainability and Development
Dillon Foster, Sustainability and Development
Mateo Garcia, Ecosystem and Science Management
Madisyn Guza, Ecosystem and Science Management
Daisy Hall, Behavior, Education, and Communication
Neal Harbaugh, Ecosystem and Science Management
Tiffany Harris, Environmental Justice
Jenna James, Landscape Architecture
Sofia Jordan, Ecosystem and Science Management
RJ Juckett, Sustainability and Development
Taylor Juleen, Environmental Justice
Doris Kiambati, Sustainability and Development
Eli Knodel, Geospatial Data Sciences
Aberdeen Leary, Environmental Justice
Sofia Ledeneva, Environmental Justice
Sydney Lubeck, Sustainable Systems
Bibi Macias, Environmental Justice
Kassandra Maraz, Environmental Justice
Alexandra Maxwell, Environmental Justice
Jaedyn Medrano, Behavior, Education, and Communication
Adriana Nieto, Sustainability and Development
Licieli Olivo, Sustainability and Development
Logan Ragsdale, Sustainable Systems
Jonathan Rosales, Environmental Policy and Planning
Maria Sandoval, Environmental Policy and Planning
Christine Sit, Environmental Policy and Planning
Amidat Sonekan, Sustainability and Development
Marla Steele, Geospatial Data Sciences
Bionca Stewart, Sustainability and Development
Daniel Tinajero, Sustainability and Development
Marianna Coelho Uchoa, Environmental Policy and Planning
Lisa Vaiman, Ecosystem and Science Management
Edgar Israel Venegas, Sustainable Systems
Jenny Zhang, Sustainability and Development
Crystal Zhao, Sustainable Systems

Fall of 2023 Next-Gen Scholars Cohort

Tara Apo, Environmental Justice
Sarra Bridges, Environmental Justice
Olivia Butts, Environmental Justice
Amelia Clark, Ecosystem Science and Management
Katelyn Connelly, Environmental Justice
Bridget Damon, Sustainability and Development
Devin Derr, Landscape Architecture
Nia Dubon-Robinson, Ecosystem Science and Management
Amina Dunn, Environmental Justice
Daniela Giordano, Behavior, Education and Communication
Julie Gourlay, Ecosystem Science and Management
Amaya Griego, Ecosystem Science and Management
Taylor Hayes, Sustainable Systems
Paige Hughart, Landscape Architecture
Marsalis Jolley, Landscape Architecture
Ceci Kimball, Environmental Policy and Planning
Sol Llanes, Sustainability and Development
Daniel Lim, Landscape Architecture
Samantha Maldonado, Environmental Justice
Lizz Malloy, Environmental Justice
Cheyenne Morris, Environmental Justice
Alyssa Murphy, Landscape Architecture
Suliyat Olagbenro, Sustainable Systems
Sara Olmsted, Ecosystem Science and Management
Lyric Patterson, Environmental Justice
Paula Perez Cassidy, Environmental Justice
Craig Reiley, Sustainability and Development
Morgan Riggs, Sustainability and Development
Shivanee Shah, Sustainable Systems
Anusuya Singh, Sustainable Systems
Jessica Soulliere, Landscape Architecture
Lauren Talbot, Ecosystem Science and Management + Environmental Policy and Planning
Justin Thompson, Environmental Policy and Planning
Tien Vo, Ecosystem Science and Management + Environmental Justice
Monica Woodruff, Ecosystem Science and Management