About the RAY Fellowship

Inspired by efforts to increase racial diversity in conservation, the Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Conservation Diversity Fellowship aims to increase and facilitate conservation-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color. The RAY Fellowship is a paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation sector—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is lead by the diverse communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.

The RAY Fellowship provides first-time career access opportunities for recent college graduates who do not have previous professional experience or a graduate degree. RAY Fellows are placed within one of our Member Organizations for a year-long paid fellowship position, with the resources and support to develop experiences that will launch them onto a path of career growth in conservation. Fellows work with mentors, grow their networks, and forge lasting relationships with their cohort of Fellows. RAY Fellowship positions are full-time paid positions with competitive entry-level salaries plus benefits. Fellows will also receive a stipend of $1,000 to go towards professional development opportunities, in addition to coordinated professional development through RAY Member Organizations and the Environmental Leadership Program.

Eligibility & How to Apply

Eligible applicants will:

• Come from a racial / ethnic background underrepresented in conservation and demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Be less than 2 years out of college and have a Bachelor's Degree by July 2019 (we are not considering individuals with graduate degrees at this time) 
• Have not had a full-time job in conservation 
• Have the ability to work in the United States and commit to the entire fellowship

Applications for the 2019 cycle are open and descriptions of Fellowship positions will be added on a rolling basis. Completed applications should include a CV or resume, a letter of support, two essays, and a short answer response. Visit our website at http://www.rayconservationfellows.org for application instructions and deadlines.

Informational Webinars

Applicants may join one of our upcoming informational webinar series to ask questions, learn more about the application process, and hear from a current RAY Fellow. Registration links, webinar dates and times, and featured Fellows can be found here on our website: https://rayconservationfellows.org/informational-webinars-applicants. 

For more information please contact Jordan Williams, Program Manager, RAY Conservation Diversity Fellowship at jordan@elpnet.org / (617) 942-0585.