Gunnison, CO

Position Title: Graduate Assistantship

Organization: Western Colorado University- Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Location: Gunnison, CO

Organization Overview:  The Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability empowers students to foster community transitions to ecologically resilient, economically sustainable and socially-just energy, food, water and land-use systems. Students have monitored forests on snowshoes, managed a campus organic farm, addressed climate change and collaborated with diverse global communities.

Position Overview: Through experiential learning and project work with organizations in the Rocky Mountains and around the world, students earning Western Colorado University’s Master in Environmental Management degree enhance skills to tackle environmental problems and craft careers with government agencies, non-profits, and for-profit organizations.

Western’s Master in Environmental Management (MEM) is different from typical graduate programs. Project and portfolios are tailored to each student’s environmental career vision and a commitment to immersive education through the school’s unique block schedule. In the program, you have the opportunity to apply course theory and material to meet the needs of community and affiliated partners. There is an abundance of opportunities to engage with professionals in the field, attend panels, workshops and events, and participate in immersive multi-day field experiences to establish networks.

There are assistantships available for graduate students working with Center for Public Lands, Hunters of Color, and Coldharbour Institute

Duties: 

• Understand the complex interactions among human, climate, and ecological systems.
• Access and evaluate information about environmental issues.
• Critically assess the fundamental elements of environmental problems.
• Develop and apply diverse management and adaptation strategies to solve environmental problems.
• Effectively communicate the complexity of environmental problems as well as appropriate solutions to diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with and build partnerships among diverse stakeholders in order to complete major environmental projects.

Qualification:

• BA degree, BS degree, or Provisional Admittance to the graduate program is required.
• Admissions Criteria: a holistic package balancing academic excellence with environmental leadership experience encouraged. Admissions packages will include: academic transcripts showing a recommended 3.0 undergraduate GPA or above in relevant courses; a portfolio outlining environmental employment, leadership and volunteer experience; a statement of purpose describing the student’s intellectual and professional interests in environmental management; and three letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors in related fields.
• Provisional Admission to the Master in Environmental Management Program: An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the Master in Environmental Management Program may be provisionally admitted or may be required to submit additional materials in order to be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or Dean of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.

Start Date: July 1, 2024

How to Apply: Please visit the online application for more information as well as how to apply.