How California Sea Grant’s State Fellowship Program Fuels Careers in Coastal Conservation and Management

Abstract

California Sea Grant’s State Fellowship Program, modeled after NOAA Sea Grant’s highly successful John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, provides hands-on experience in the planning, implementation, and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs in the state of California. The program matches graduate students who have recently completed their degrees with hosts in municipal, state, and federal agencies and in research and conservation organizations in California for a 12-month paid fellowship. Over 300 fellows have been matched with over 40 unique hosts since its launch in 1987. Many alumni are now employed in key positions in government at the state and federal level, with 80% of participants in a given year going on to jobs in policy and/or resource management after completing their fellowships. This article provides a brief history of the program and testimonials from past fellows and hosts, and explores the program’s important role in providing agencies with well-trained, environmentally literate staff who can support the needs of coastal communities and ecosystems for the climate challenges ahead.