Thanks to a grant from the Smallwood Foundation, the Scientist in Every Florida School (SEFS) Environmental Leaders Fellowship, our cohort of four Fellows attended seminars featuring environmental experts, received mentoring from professionals in environmental fields, assisted with K-12 science programming through our Scientist in Every Florida School program, networked with peers, and took part in a multi-day field experience focused on environmental challenges across Florida.
2024 Fellows
Click on the photos below to learn more about each Fellow and how they connect their work to the environment.
Benefits of the Program
Selected Fellows leave the program with the following:
- Stipend of $2,500 ($1,250 awarded in Spring 2024; $1,250 awarded in Summer 2024)
- Spring Break field experience (March 2024)
- Enhanced understanding of environmental issues
- Hands-on experience in K-12 science education and outreach
- A broad skill set in different approaches to tackling environmental issues
- Professional and leadership skills focused on research, education, and civic engagement. Fellowship experiences will culminate in a final project produced in tandem with Scientist in Every Florida School.
- A network of colleagues they can connect to as they emerge as leaders in their respective fields
Program components
- Seminars: These discussions will feature environmental professionals from a variety of fields.
- Scientific conferences: Fellows will have the opportunity to attend a scientific conference and practice their networking skills.
- Mentoring: Fellows will receive mentoring from professionals working in K-12 education and outreach.
- Classroom visits with SEFS: Fellows will have the chance to prepare and teach environmental science lessons to K-12 students.
- Spring break field experience: Fellows will gain hands-on research experience and have opportunities to engage and connect with professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders tackling environmental issues from various perspectives.
- Final project with SEFS: Fellows will take part in a project that contributes to K-12 environmental education.
Cohort II Fellowship Team
Brian Abramowitz
K-12 Education and Outreach Coordinator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program
Email: babramowitz@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Lexi Bolger
Graduate Coordinator, SEFS Environmental Leaders Fellowship
Email: abolger@ufl.edu
Rebecca Burton
Communications Manager, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: rlburton@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Megan Ennes
Director, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute & Assistant Curator of Museum Education, Florida Museum of Natural History
Email: mennes@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Stephanie Killingsworth
K-12 Education and Outreach Coordinator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program
Email: skillingsworth@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Sadie Mills
Program Coordinator and Educator, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: smills@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Mariela Pajuelo
Assistant Scientist, UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute
Email: mpajuelo@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Funding Sources
Smallwood Foundation