Tribal Sustainability Leaders Fellowship Program
The Tribal Sustainability Leaders Fellowship (TSLF) is a partnership between the SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education and the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The fellowship supports American Indian graduate students preparing to address climate and sustainability priorities in their communities and nations.
Purpose
CU Boulder is a premier institution for both climate and sustainability research and Native American and Indigenous Studies in the intermountain west and globally. The TSLF seeks to merge these areas of strength by recruiting and mentoring American Indian graduate students who seek to address pressing sustainability related issues of concern to their communities. We adopt an expansive definition of sustainability that incorporates Indigenous knowledge systems and can therefore include arts and humanities approaches to research that may intersect with Western definitions of the natural and social sciences.
Funding for up to two students in a two-year Master’s program, from fall 2027 through spring 2029. This funding will include:
- A 50% Graduate Research Assistant (RA) appointment for two academic years.
- Associated tuition remission and benefits, subject to applicable CU Boulder graduate appointment policies.
- Research support stipends for summer 2028 and summer 2029.
Learn more about graduate student appointment funding, tuition remission, fees, and benefits. Exact appointment terms and amounts are confirmed through the relevant department and formal offer.
- Applicants must be enrolled citizens, or descendants of enrolled citizens, of a federally recognized American Indian Tribal Nation or Alaska Native Tribe / ANCSA Regional or Village Corporation, or of verifiable Native Hawaiian descent.
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree by fall 2027 and meet the additional admission requirements for their chosen CU Boulder graduate program.
- Applicants should be interested in graduate study related to Indigenous Environmental and Sustainability Studies, broadly construed.
Eligibility documentation: Applicants will provide enrollment/verification documents and/or a copy of birth certificate(s) showing descendancy from an enrolled American Indian or Alaska Native citizen or Native Hawaiian. Applicants may also, instead, provide a copy of their Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card. Please contact us if you have questions about your tribal affiliation and eligibility. Eligibility documentation will be requested as part of the fellowship process; contact the program team with questions before applying.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
| • Tribal natural resource management issues and strategies | • Indigenous-led conservation and land caretaking |
| • Indigenous food systems and food sovereignty | • Indigenous environmental and climate justice |
| • Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental governance | • Indigenous science approaches to climate, fire, soils, ecology, botany, wildlife, water and air quality, and environmental engineering |
| • Indigenous land education | • Indigenous political ecology |
| • Indigeneity, gender, and the environment | • Indigenous environmental humanities |
Two selected students will begin their Master’s studies in fall 2027. Over two years, each fellow will take graduate courses and develop a research project within their chosen degree program. In addition to support from their academic department, faculty and staff from SPIKE and CNAIS will offer:
- Supplemental cohort activities, support, and mentoring.
- Designated space to gather and spend time together outside the academic department setting.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Connections with Native American and Indigenous groups and organizations on and off campus.
- Help locating resources for needs beyond academics, including housing, family, health, and community-related concerns.
Fellows can draw on a broad network of academic centers, research partnerships, and institutes working in sustainability, Indigenous studies, and environmental and climate sciences:
- SPIKE Center for Sustainability Education
- Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS)
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
- Earth Sciences Information Lab (Earth Lab)
- North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
- Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance
- CU Boulder Native American Affairs
CU Boulder’s Native American Affairs initiative reflects a broader institutional commitment to strengthening relationships with Indigenous nations and improving opportunities, recruitment, and retention for Native American students.
- Choose a Master’s program. Review CU Boulder’s graduate program directory and deadlines and identify a program that fits your interests. Possible options include (but aren’t limited to): Environmental Studies, Geography, Anthropology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Earth Sciences, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Communication, Media Studies, Education, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Journalism.
- Identify potential advisors. Look for faculty whose research aligns with your interests. A helpful resource is the CNAIS website, which lists Core and Affiliate Faculty across campus who work with Indigenous communities and/or specialize in Native American and Indigenous Studies.
- Review admissions requirements. Prepare the materials required by CU Boulder Graduate Admissions, which may include transcripts, application essays, and letters of recommendation. Start with the Graduate School admissions information.
- Submit your graduate application. Apply by the deadline for your selected program for entry in fall 2027. Program deadlines vary, so confirm the exact deadline with your chosen department as soon as possible.
- Explain your fit. In your application, describe the work you hope to do, how it aligns with faculty research, and how participating in TSLF could help you contribute to sustainability and/or climate adaptation priorities in your tribal community.
- Send fellowship materials. Email a copy of your CV and personal statement to cnais@colorado.edu.
IMPORTANT — DEADLINES: Because graduate deadlines differ by department and may change, verify your chosen program’s current deadline immediately. Contact the fellowship team if you are unsure whether applications are still being accepted.
We welcome your interest, ideas, and applications! We can help you explore research interests and eligibility, identify and connect with potential advisors, arrange campus visits or meetings, and answer questions about CU Boulder and the surrounding area.
Contact: Dr. Clint Carroll, CNAIS Faculty Director (clint.carroll@colorado.edu)
Learn more: CU Boulder’s announcement of the Tribal Sustainability Leaders Fellowship
Downloadable Info-sheet:
