Reimagining Sustainable Futures: 2026 Fellows Cohort Announced

February 26, 2026 acthomp8

Sustainable futures fellows students pose for group photo.

Twenty undergraduate and graduate students have been selected as the second cohort of NC State’s Sustainable Futures Fellows. Over the next 15 weeks, students will participate in five interdisciplinary teams alongside faculty and staff mentors to explore sustainability challenges and opportunities across key sectors of the economy.

This year’s teams are examining the short, medium, and long-term futures of energy, manufacturing, transportation and urban forestry. Together, they represent six academic colleges and include both undergraduate and graduate students from 11 disciplinary programs. Faculty and professional staff mentors come from the College of Natural Resources, the College of Engineering, and the University Honors Program.

The Fellows program is coordinated by NC State’s Climate and Sustainability Academy (CaSA) and is financially supported by NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education through the redesign of the United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation Endowment agreement.

Kicking Off a Semester of Innovation

The 2026 cohort was welcomed at a kickoff and orientation event hosted by the CaSA on January 28. Dr. Christopher Galik, professor in the Department of Public Administration and Deputy Executive Director of the Climate and Sustainability Academy, encouraged students to reimagine a more sustainable future and to use the program as a space to test bold, innovative ideas grounded in research, education and collaboration.

Dr. Mark Bernhard, Vice Provost for Continuing and Lifelong Education, delivered the keynote address, noting that the program reflects Goal 1 of the university’s strategic plan, Wolfpack 2030: Powering the Extraordinary: Empower Students for a Lifetime of Success and Impact. Bernhard continued, “By participating in this exciting program, students have an opportunity to develop and expand their experience in working on interdisciplinary teams that expose them to durable learning skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, futures thinking and ideation, all while working on some of the most pressing sustainability concerns in today’s world.”

“NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education is proud, through its partnership with the UPS Foundation and CaSA, to support this terrific educational experience.”

Dr. Mark Bernhard, Vice Provost for Continuing and Lifelong Education

Dr. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward congratulated the cohort on earning their place in a competitive selection process. This year, the program received more than 80 high-caliber applications. She applauded students for co-developing their proposals and forming interdisciplinary teams, encouraging them to continue reaching for ambitious goals.

JoAnna Klein, a science journalist working with NC State University’s Long View Project, greeted the new cohort as the fellowship’s first Futures Ambassador. She will lead the teams on a crash course in futures-thinking through a workshop and consultations. Klein encouraged the new fellows to embrace their creative sides and to take advantage of this rare time and space to think deeply with others of different disciplines.

Alumni from the inaugural cohort also shared reflections. Gracie Wood (College of Design) and Elise Boorom (College of Sciences) spoke about the value of interdisciplinary teamwork and community partnership. Boorom described how her team’s collaboration with the City of Raleigh’s Office of Sustainability led to a summer internship with the city’s Department of Solid Waste Services. Wood reflected on how the experience strengthened skills she now applies as a graphic design and communications intern with NC State’s Waste Reduction and Recycling program.

Working closely with their mentors, each team will present its findings and recommendations at the Celebration of Sustainability on April 21, showcasing the innovative ideas and cross-campus collaboration that define the Sustainable Futures Fellows program.