Welcome to our EcoLeader Career and Leadership Development Center! Our mission is to help high school juniors and seniors, college students, and young professionals explore and map out their own personal career paths and develop the key competencies necessary achieving their sustainability career goals.

Visit often, we will be adding new and up-to-date resources and opportunities such as articles, webinars, blogs, video clips, and live chats to help students and young professionals within the EcoLeader community pursue their personal and professional objectives. 

If you are an educator, career services professional, or other advocate for young sustainability leaders, check out our Career Services Toolkit for a variety of worksheets and tools to help you integrate EcoCareers resources into your classes or other programming to help support your students' development of their personal green career plans.
 

Career Planning Tool

Framework for Success

The EcoLeaders Career Planning Tool will walk you through the career exploration and planning process from self-assessment through self-actualization. Use this tool to brainstorm and evaluate your options, whether you have access to a guidance counselor, career services professional, or not!

Career Sector Outlooks

Where would you like to make a difference?

Explore the following sustainability career sectors to learn about: interesting developments and positions, average salaries, required education and credentials, and more. Learn insights from a professional in the field. Get inspired by success stories from EcoLeaders like YOU!

 

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NWF EcoLeaders Top 50:
 

Inspiring the Next Generation


The EcoLeaders Career Center has celebrated the motivating stories and career accomplishments of 50 young professionals that are making their names (and a difference) in the sustainability movement. We called this group of change-makers and rising stars “EcoLeaders Top 50 Inspirations.” 

In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of these 50 terrific NWF alumni, these interviews contain a wealth of useful career advice for students and young professionals who are designing their own career paths. The Top 50 discussed a number of themes from their personal career inspirations and mentors to project-based leadership skills and internship opportunities, to pertinent certifications, such as the NWF EcoLeader Certification, and much more.

 

Name Current Position Alma Mater Fellow/ Intern Project Year
Alex Harker Landscape Architect; Creo Landscape Architecture University of Colorado, Boulder; University of California, Berkeley Colorado School of Mines Traffic Alleviation Plan 2006
Alison Erlenbach Program Manager; Pacific Gas and Electric University of Florida Carbon Footprint Evaluation and Outreach 2007
Amira Odeh Graduate Student; Universidad Austral de Chile University of Puerto Rico No Mas Botellas 2010
Andrew Sartain Founder and President; Earth Rebirth University of Oklahoma Earth Rebirth 2014
Andrew Kamerosky Ph.D. Student and Research Assistant; Florida Atlantic University Bethune-Cookman University Initiating Sustainability at Bethune-Cookman University 2009
Andrew Lee Founder, Esper, Inc.; ​Advisor, Creative Action Network Claremont McKenna College Irrigation Optimization 2006
Anthony Cooper Certified EcoLeader Florida A&M University Floridians for Solar Choice Petition Collection 2016
Bilal Key After School Counselor at YMCA Lincoln University 2013-2014 Toyota Green Ambassadorship 2013
Bri Jones Executive Director; Equality State Policy Center University of Wyoming Emerging Leaders Advisory Council 2013
Christina Rinas PhD Student; University of Sherbrooke Alaska Pacific University Alpine Vegetation Change on the Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska 2013
Christopher Murakami Research Consultant University of Missouri; Assessment Resource Center University of Missouri Community Garden for Mizzou 2011
Cody Kamrowski Student; University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Conservation Leadership Corps 2014
Daniel Weisshaar Produce Manager and Buyer; ​Glen’s Garden Market Warren Wilson College Global Warming Policy Intern 2009
Daniella Lewis Farm Stand Manager; ​Plant It Forward University of Texas, Austin Urban Community Garden 2011
Deborah Scott Research Fellow; University of Edinburgh Goshen College Sustainable Landscaping Guide 2001
Erica Tauzer Community Planner; Environmental Design & Research Albion College Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2008
Evan Reimondo Environmental Stewardship Coordinator; National Outdoor Leadership School University at Buffalo “Portraits of the Real Wyoming” 2013
Gideon Burdick Marketing and Development Associate; Red Tomato Warren Wilson College Energy – Real-Time Monitoring 2009
Gina Schrader Director, Business Model Innovation; NextEnergy Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies; Western Michigan University NWF Conservation Intern 2000
Hala Elbarmil Outreach Specialist; Fairfax County Park Authority George Mason University Get your wheels ready! Bike events at #GMU! 2015
Ian Johnson Sustainability Director; ​Colorado College University of Wisconsin, River Falls Theoretical Rotational Management Plan 2009
Ivy Dunlap Environmental Specialist and Landscape Architect; City of Portland University of Oregon Campus Landscape Sustainability Scorecard 2001
Jessian Choy Green Purchasing and Toxics Reduction Analyst; San Francisco Department of the Environment University of California, Santa Cruz University of California Santa Cruz Student Environmental Center (UCSC SEC) 2001
Jomar Floyd Certified EcoLeader Florida A&M University “Science for Us” 4-H Club Charter: Engaging Youth in STEM/Environmental Awareness, 2014
Jonitka Hall Marketing, Whole Foods Market Clark Atlanta University Emerging Leaders Advisory Council 2014
Julian Dautremont-Smith Director of Programs; AASHE Lewis and Clark College How-To Guide for Inventorying Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2002
Kamilah Martin National Director; ​Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots Program The City University of New York Methods for Encouraging Conservation Stewardship in Underrepresented Populations 2014
Katharine Pelzer Director of Commercial Operations; SparkMeter University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Climate and Energy Intern 2010
Kawika Winter Director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve; ​National Tropical Botanical Garden University of Hawai`i at Manoa Natural Resource Management System for the Limahuli Garden and Preserve 2005
Kaylon Paterson Founder; Amicus Terrae Morehouse College AUC Clean Up 2014
Kellan Lyman Economic Development Volunteer; Philippines The University of Georgia How-To: Getting a Polluting Refinery Under Control 2014
Kimberly Reeves Sustainability Programs Manager; University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Agnes Scott College Agnes Scott Arboretum Update and Virtual Tour 2011
Kindra Ramos Director of Communications and Outreach; Washington Trails Association Western Washington University Policy and Lobbying Intern 2000
Mary Ellen Kustin Director of Policy for Public Lands; Center for American Progress University of Maryland College Park Advocacy Intern 2009
Michael Gale Special Assistant; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service University of Florida Engaging Young Adults with Technology, Fantasy Storytelling 2014
Michael Slotten Extension Educator; North Dakota State University St Edward's University Central Texas Endangered Species Education Project 2013
Niraj Ray Founder; Cultivate the City The Bethune Cookman University J.O. Wilson Elementary School Kitchen Garden 2013
Pamela Millan Student; St. Edward's University St. Edward's University Relationship Between White-Tailed Deer Density and Activity in a Residential Area 2015
Phil Aroneanu Campaign Strategy and Organizing Consultant; philaroneanu.com Middlebury College Worm Composting Program 2004
Phoebe Romero Energy Efficiency Consultant; ‎CLEAResult St. Edward's University Rainwater Harvesting System Proposal 2013
Rachel Sholly Chief of Program Development; Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources University of Rhode Island Clean Transportation Policy and Public Education 2008
Ron Schlidge Computer Science Teacher; American School of Paris Middlebury College Biofuel Feasibility Evaluation 2002
Samantha Weaver Renewable Energy Strategy Analyst; Pacific Gas and Electric Company Kalamazoo College Campus Energy Group Initiatives 2007
Sean Hackett Environmental Protection Specialist; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Gonzaga University School of Law; Fort Lewis College NWF Summer Legal Intern 2010
Sean Armstrong Project Manager; Redwood Energy Humboldt State University Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Research and Writing 2000
Sherill Baldwin Source Reduction and Recycling Analyst; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Michigan State University Edible Food By-Products Research 2002
Stacy Cachules Operations Director; Central Indiana Land Trust Indiana University Bloomington NWF Grassroots Communication Intern 2004
Summer Rayne Oakes Founder; sugardetox.me Cornell University Organic Portraits 2004
Tessa Haagenson Principal Planning Analyst; Great River Energy Bemidji State University Renewable Energy Education and P

 

EcoCareer Sponsors

NWF's EcoLeaders Program is offering a new sponsorship opportunity, EcoCareers Campus Sponsors, to advance the next generation of conservation leaders!

EcoCareers Campus Sponsors receive FREE admission to the conference for the entire student body, as well as faculty and staff. In addition to this incredible cost savings, Campus Sponsors receive FREE access to the EcoLeaders Career Planning Tool for students and faculty, and discounts for all students who apply for the project-based NWF EcoLeaders Campus or Community Certification. This is a great opportunity for colleges and universities interested in advancing career and leadership development for their students. 

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