Repass-Rodgers Fellowship on California Salmon Restoration Policy

M.S. in Coastal Science and Policy, University of California, Santa Cruz

Applications due Tuesday, December 10, 2020 at 8:59 PST
For Fall 2021 entering graduate class

The Coastal Science and Policy (CSP) graduate program at UC Santa Cruz seeks applications for the Repass-Rodgers Fellowship on policy to restore salmon populations in the California Central Valley and Sacramento Delta. Our ideal Repass-Rodgers Fellow shows leadership promise, passion about restoring native salmon populations, commitment to science informing policy, strong capacity to collaborate with diverse partners and is an effective communicator (including with social media). The 2021 Repass-Rodgers Fellow will work with the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA) to lead a capstone project that links effective policy, strategic communications, and salmon restoration. This highly competitive fellowship covers two academic years of in-state tuition, student fees (including health insurance), and living stipend (including academic year and modest summer support).

The two-year M.S. degree program in Coastal Science and Policy provides a solutions-oriented and practice-based curriculum that prepares our graduates to become more effective leaders on solving coastal challenges from watersheds to the open ocean. We offer in-depth interaction with faculty members, professionals and practitioners for small cohorts of diverse students hailing from California, additional US states and other nations. The first year entails interdisciplinary courses, workshops/seminars, and a guided, strategic process for each student to develop their second year capstone project in collaboration with partner organizations. In the second year, the student works full time with the partner organization to conduct the capstone project and participates weekly in a virtual capstone seminar. At the end of the second year, students present their capstone deliverables in writing and via an oral public presentation to complete the degree.

The mission of the Golden State Salmon Association is to restore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values. The GSSA is an influential coalition of commercial and recreational salmon fishermen, related businesses, restaurants, a native tribe, environmental NGOs, elected officials, families, and communities that rely on salmon; and is also involved in the Central Valley Salmon Habitat Partnership that includes state and federal water and wildlife agencies, farmers and water suppliers, fishermen, and conservationists working together to restore and protect vital salmon habitats. The Repass-Rodgers Fellow, by pursuing a capstone project in partnership with the GSSA, has an outstanding opportunity to learn from and contribute to the work of this diverse coalition.

How to Apply: Please indicate your interest in pursuing the Repass-Rodgers Fellowship by highlighting your aligned interests and experience in your Statement of Purpose. More details about the CSP application may be found here:

Questions: Contact the CSP Program at csp@ucsc.edu with subject line, “Repass-Rodgers Fellowship.”

Click here to download PDF of the announcement.