The Graduate Fellowship program was created in 2024 through a collaborative effort to engage the next generation of natural resources professionals in Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership’s mission to support collaborative groups throughout the state of Idaho.
The fellowship is open to students working on a higher educational degree related to natural resources, environmental sciences, communication, policy administration, forestry, or related fields. This internship seeks to provide graduate students an opportunity to work with, and learn from, a diverse set of stakeholders on public land management and pressing conservation issues in the state. Students gain experience in collaborative management, structure, and development. A primary goal of the fellowship is to develop skills in cross-functional, multi-stakeholder facilitation in the natural resources space—a documented gap in the current professional environment. Graduate fellows typically serve a 16 week term.
Core Responsibilities of the roll include:
- Event Planning for the annual Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership Conference
- Creating documentation to share environmental policy changes with constituents
- Assist in planning and logistics for Collaborative meetings.
- Attend meetings and draft meeting summaries.
- Develop marketing materials to promote the Collaborative's work and events.
- Assist in the creation and management of the organization's website and social media presence.
- Managed IFRP’s Customer Relationship Management Tools including email lists and associated communications.
- Research best practices for forest collaboratives.
- Conduct research and summarize key topics related to forest plan changes.
- Research and foster partnerships with other organizations and agencies.
- Assist in grant writing initiatives and research new funding sources
- Develop outreach materials, such as newsletters, flyers, and presentations.
Meet Our Current Graduate Fellow
Katie Russ works as the Graduate Fellow for the Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership and is a Master of Natural Resources candidate at the University of Idaho, specializing in Environmental Education and Science Communication. Katie’s role at IFRP includes logistics and planning for the annual Forest Collaborative Conference, stakeholder facilitations, outreach & communications, and channel marketing.