Randal Fellowship Program
Are you an undergraduate, graduate student or recent graduate interested in learning more about a career in environmental conservation? If so, you should consider applying for the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Randal Fellowship Program! Twelve students will be selected for this unique opportunity to spend the summer living and learning with other current and future activists and decision-makers in the environmental movement. Each Fellow will receive a $325 weekly stipend during the eight weeks of the program ($2,600 total upon completion), in addition to housing.
Visit https://pecva.org/fellowship to learn more and apply (only applications through our website will be considered).
The PEC Randal Fellowship Program is an immersive experience that promises personalized experiences and practical knowledge and skills for transitioning into various career fields, such as:
- Public policy and law
- Land conservation
- Grassroots advocacy
- Land use/regional planning
- Habitat management and restoration
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable agriculture
- Historic preservation
- Environmental fieldwork
- Nonprofit leadership, development and communications
- Geographic information systems (GIS) mapping
- and more!
This hybrid, eight-week program gives participants a practical and comprehensive understanding of the role of nonprofit and local engagement in addressing complex and interdisciplinary environmental issues faced by communities today.
Program Overview:
Five weeks of the fellowship will be online through Google Meet/Zoom, featuring seminar-style classroom discussions, guest lectures, and assignments to practice knowledge and skill application. Three weeks will be devoted to an in-person stay in Warrenton, VA, with off-site excursions to conservation properties owned by PEC and key sites in our nine-county area and the City of Charlottesville. Randal Fellows will be engaged in hands-on activities and fieldwork, educational tours, and recreational activities to enjoy the natural beauty of the Virginia Piedmont. Along the way, fellows will explore how land use, land management, public policy, and advocacy intersect to shape the short and long-term futures of communities, the climate, and the environment as a whole.
The program culminates in a collaborative real–world practicum, during which fellows will choose a research focus of interest based on a particular aspect of PEC’s work.
Stipend and Accommodations:
PEC covers all program-related expenses and provides each fellow with a stipend of $325 per week to cover living expenses. For the three weeks in-person, PEC will provide dual occupancy lodging/hotel accommodations and offer a travel reimbursement, subject to prior approval, to cover the cost of getting to and from the Virginia Piedmont (i.e. airfare, gas mileage).
Undergraduate juniors and seniors from any institution, in any major, as well as graduate students and recent college graduates, are invited to apply. Currently, only U.S. citizens or those on a path to citizenship are eligible.
Applicants who are accepted to the program are required to participate in all aspects of it, and should not make any other professional or personal commitments during the program that would prohibit full participation.
We encourage you to apply to the PEC Randal Fellowship Program if you:
- want to broaden your environmental knowledge and gain new perspectives;
- are interested in a local, interdisciplinary, and multi-sector approach to environmental work;
- want to explore how policy, conservation science, and advocacy intersect on the ground, in the real world;
- hold space for nuance and complexity in problem-solving;
- value smart growth, land conservation and access to nature;
- have an interest in the nonprofit or government sector;
- are passionate about a diverse and holistic environmental field;
- are committed to supporting and advocating for equity and justice; and
- want to strengthen your leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Subjects Covered:
- Land Conservation
- Land Use/Regional Planning
- Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Restoration
- Historic Preservation
- Water and Air Quality Monitoring
- Energy Conservation, Siting and Policy
- Agriculture and Best Management Practices
- Working with State and Local Government
- Nonprofit Leadership, Communications and Development
- Resume-Building, Networking and Job Search Tips