The Climate Leaders Academy (CLA) formalizes interdisciplinary climate training and professional development through a cohort model that brings together students from a diverse set of institutions and backgrounds. We directly engage in national and international climate change frameworks, provide financial support, supply formalized mentoring, furnish an established network of ongoing support, and offer transferable graduate-level course credits.

The first cohort enrolled in Summer 2023 and attended COP28 in Dubai, UAE, where fellows presented their projects, spoke at press conferences, and engaged in the negotiation proceedings. The second cohort enrolled in Summer 2024 and attended COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Meet all of our past fellows on the Alumni Fellows page.

2025/2026 Fellows

Gabrielle Beck

Vanderbilt University

Flannery Black-Ingersoll

Boston University

Asher Burstin

Vanderbilt University

Lauren Gray

Michigan Technological University

Morgan Halley-Gluesing

Michigan Technological University

Sheida Hooshmandi

Boston University

Lauren Lamson

Vanderbilt University

Maria Schutte

Tennessee State University

Asiah Sims

Tennessee State University

Lexi Tater

Michigan Technological University

Mark Wang

Vanderbilt University

Yu-Qing Chua

Senior Fellow, Boston University

Matthew Manu

Senior Fellow, Tennessee State University

2024/2025 Fellows

Fatima Said

Howard University

Sarah Widderich

Appalachian State University

Joseph Beeson

Michigan Technological University

Kelsey Uselton

University of Colorado Boulder

Mira Kelly-Fair

Boston University

Brandon Slaboda

Colorado State University

Quinna Hogan

Tennessee State University

Nirmal Thapa

Tennessee State University

2023/2024 Fellows

Kenadi Mitchell

Howard University

Anna Kavanaugh

Michigan Technological University

Shalom B. Entner

Boston University

Kathryn Krieger

Michigan Technological University

Najma Thomas

Vanderbilt University

Mariah Caballero

Vanderbilt University

Sasha Gilmore

Boston University

Shaun Karakkattu

Vanderbilt University

Autumn Hooker

Howard University

Benjamin Lyons

Colorado State University

DaKennya Goines

Tennessee State University