The Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program was created in response to the need for greater diversity in environmentally-related fields. The program supports two cohorts of Fellows each year: RAY Conservation Fellows and RAY Clean Energy Fellows. Its goal is to expand career opportunities in conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy for emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds. The RAY Fellowship is a two-year, paid program designed to provide recent college graduates with the skills, experiences, support, and community needed to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—fields that, in the program’s vision, will be inclusive, representative, and driven by diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences across the United States.

The RAY Fellowship is managed by the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) and offers first-time career opportunities to recent college graduates who have no prior professional experience or graduate degrees.

RAY Conservation Fellows are placed with one of the program’s Host Organization partners for a two-year paid fellowship, providing the necessary resources and support to help them develop career-advancing experiences in conservation. Similarly, RAY Clean Energy Fellows are placed with Clean Energy Member Organizations for a comparable two-year paid fellowship, with the same level of resources and support to develop career experiences in energy efficiency or renewable energy.

Staff from partner organizations also take part in Communities of Practice to enhance their ability to create welcoming, inclusive environments for emerging leaders.

All Fellows receive mentorship, expand their professional networks, and build lasting relationships across both the Conservation and Clean Energy cohorts.

About Dr. Roger Arliner Young

Dr. Roger Arliner Young (1889 – November 9, 1964) was an American scientist specializing in zoology, biology, and marine biology. She made history as the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in zoology. The RAY Fellowship Program honors Dr. Young’s legacy, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions despite overcoming significant personal and social challenges. The program reflects the belief that creating an equitable, inclusive world requires collective and thoughtful engagement.

To learn more about Dr. Young, read "The Little-Known Life of the First African American Female Zoologist" by Emi Okikawa (RAY '17).

RAY Fellow Testimonials

• "The RAY Fellowship not only prepares you for careers in the environmental sector, the community also builds you up, empowers you, and supports you throughout your journey."
• "The RAY Fellowship has empowered me to be my authentic self and supported me in entering environmental spaces that historically have not represented me or my community."
• "I really appreciated having a cohort of black and brown identities that look like me, that have similar experiences, and that were able to understand what I went through."
• "They didn’t just throw us out into NGOs. They were there with us."

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is March 31, 2025.