Sustainability Fellowships

Sustainable Business Operations Evaluation & Integration

Tanbark Molded Fiber Products

Saco, ME
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Tanbark is a Maine-based manufacturing company with a mission to provide planet-friendly, purpose-driven products by pushing the limits of molded fiber design. Our team is built on curiosity, adaptability, and accountability, always embracing change and learning. We value collaboration, trust, and transparency, fostering open communication and shared success. With a focus on sustainability, we create a safe environment and innovate responsibly for the future. 

About the Fellowship position: 
As Tanbark scales, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system will support long-term business sustainability by improving operational efficiency, reducing waste, and providing accurate data for smarter decision-making, while ensuring workforce stability and enabling the company to operate and grow responsibly over time. The primary focus of our project will be to research ERP application options for Tanbark and create a path and plan for implementation so that Tanbark can more effectively meet its business and sustainability goals. 

Outcomes: 

• Deliver a final ERP recommendation aligned with operational efficiency and sustainability goals.
• Develop a detailed ERP implementation roadmap with timelines, milestones, resource needs, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Audit and prepare operational, financial, and production data for smooth ERP migration.
• Establish processes within the ERP to track key sustainability metrics, including energy usage, emissions, and material waste.
• Present findings, recommendations, and implementation plan to leadership with a polished final report.

Additional outcome, if time permits:  

• Designed a pilot Kanban pull system integrated with the ERP to optimize inventory management. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Excellent planning and coordination skills, as well as organizational skills for effective data management  
• Ability to gather, clarify, and interpret what users/stakeholders need from the ERP system  
• Familiarity with project management concepts for tracking action items, timelines, and dependencies  
• Technical computer skills to properly assess new systems and determine if they can be incorporated with existing infrastructure
• Ability to understand business operations and how different workflows interact
• Strong communication skills for project updates, presentations, and training 

Location:  
Primary - TANBARK Office location is 5 Moulton St, 5th Fl, Portland, ME 04101 
Secondary - TANBARK Factory location is 34 Spring Hill Rd, Saco, ME 04072  

Mentors:  
Benjamin Doherty, Product Development and Process Engineer, Operations Department 
Jennifer Aalto, People and Office Manager, Human Resources 

Cornucopia Food Pantry Farm Partnerships

The Waysmeet Center

Durham, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Waysmeet Center is a non-profit community service organization responding to the needs of the most vulnerable UNH students, staff, and Durham-area residents. Waysmeet is regarded as a welcoming and supportive space with a food pantry, community meeting room, and eight affordable rental rooms for UNH students. The Waysmeet Center partners with many local organizations including the UNH Office of International Students and Scholars, UNH Department of Social Work, UNH Organic Gardening Club, UNH Cooperative Extension, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, ACLU NH, and more. Cornucopia Food Pantry, located in The Waysmeet Center, distributes roughly 20,000 lbs of food per month to more than 500 monthly visitors. To make this possible, an average of 20 dedicated community members volunteer 80 hours each week in the pantry.  

About the Fellowship position: 
Cornucopia Food Pantry is located in the Waysmeet Center and serves over 100 households a week. We are proud to offer a variety of food options to pantry clients, including local New Hampshire produce. In 2025, Cornucopia Food Pantry was fortunate to receive a $1,200 New Hampshire Feeding New Hampshire grant. Though this was a decrease from the $6,000 grant we received in 2024, we were still able to purchase a significant amount of NH-grown fruit, vegetables, dairy, and protein for pantry clients. In addition to these purchases we received fruit and vegetables from local farms such as the Wagon Hill Community Garden and LocaBerry at Emery Farm, who grew specifically for the pantry or donated surplus on a weekly basis.  

Outcomes: 
Waysmeet and Cornucopia Food Pantry’s goal is to increase the amount of fresh, local food available in the pantry by 25% between 2025 and 2027. The fellow will develop a written plan to expand Waymeet’s partnerships with local farms.  

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience working in, or a progress toward a degree in food systems, community engagement, hospitality, community development, nonprofit or business management
• Strong writing, communication, graphic design, and project management skills
• Interest in advocating for those who are food insecure
• Interest in independently networking with local food system stakeholders, including other food pantries, food distributors, growers, and food producers
• Basic research methods and data analysis skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, and Canva
• Ability to synthesize findings into a professional report
• Ability to learn new web-based data management programs, including Feeding America’s MealConnect, with minimal support

Location:  
The Waysmeet Center is located at 15 Mill Road in Durham, NH. 
Cornucopia Food Pantry is in the basement of our building. 

Work can be performed fully in-person or hybrid. 

Mentors:  
Eileen Murphy, Executive Director 
Anya Teehan, Food Pantry Manager 

Social Media Strategy & Communications

Community Power Coalition of NH

Concord, NH 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) is a nonprofit, member-governed organization that empowers cities, towns, and counties to lead their own energy futures. CPCNH helps communities take charge of their electricity supply, reduce costs, and invest in a clean, equitable energy future. Our work advances local innovation, transparent governance, and long-term community impact across more than 60 NH municipalities and counties. 

About the Fellowship position: 
CPCNH seeks a dynamic and self-directed Fellow to lead the creation of a social media strategy and content implementation plan. This Fellow will lay the foundation for CPCNH’s long-term digital engagement by identifying target audiences, building out the organization's social presence, and creating a system of replicable, branded content for use across multiple campaigns. The Fellow will also assess current tools and platforms, recommend improvements, and—if time allows—implement a pilot campaign. 

Outcomes: 

• Develop a Social Media Strategy that aligns with CPCNH’s mission, values, and community power model, including goals, messaging pillars, and audience personas
• Create a Social Media Plan including platform-specific approaches, posting schedules, content themes, and tactical recommendations
• Audit and Build Social Presence by assessing existing CPCNH channels, identifying gaps, and reviving or establishing accounts on platforms that best support CPCNH’s goals
• Recommend Tools for content scheduling, analytics, and asset management that align with CPCNH’s staffing and budget capacity
• Design Replicable Content Templates (graphics, short videos, and messaging formats) for use across campaigns, member spotlights, and outreach
• Launch a Pilot Campaign, if time allows, focused on highlighting the leadership and successes of CPCNH’s member communities
• Define Future Capacity by drafting a position description for a future CPCNH content manager role, outlining core competencies needed to grow and sustain digital outreach  

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience managing or contributing to branded social media accounts
• Strong visual storytelling and multimedia content creation skills (graphics, video, animation)
• Understanding of digital marketing tools, analytics, and content strategy
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone and voice across platforms
• Ability to work independently, manage timelines, and contribute to a mission-driven team
• Familiarity with or interest in sustainability, energy justice, and local governance
• Willingness to travel within New Hampshire to meet with local leaders, capture content, or conduct interviews (mileage reimbursed) 

What You'll Gain

• Hands-on experience developing and executing a digital communications strategy for a statewide nonprofit
• A portfolio of professional-grade campaign assets, strategy documents, and outreach content
• Experience collaborating with energy professionals, elected officials, and community advocates
• Exposure to the intersections of sustainability, community power, and public sector communications
• Mentorship from CPCNH’s Communications Manager and insight into nonprofit energy leadership 

Location:  
Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire, 14 Dixon Ave Concord, NH  

Mentor:  
You will be mentored by Nick Gosling, CPCNH’s Communications Manager, and integrated into CPCNH’s weekly strategy meetings, communications planning, and content development workflows. 

Urban Forest Inventory & Natural Climate Solutions Research

City of Concord, NH

Concord, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Located among rolling forested hills and agricultural lands in the heart of the Merrimack Valley, New Hampshire’s capital city, Concord (pop. ~ 45,000) offers a vibrant New England downtown, commerce center and state government seat, and performing arts scene.  Recently, the city has also become known as a leader in the fight against climate change.  Following earlier moves to improve energy efficiency in municipal operations and to source its electricity from renewables, in July 2018, Concord adopted a 100% renewable energy goal for the entire community by unanimous vote of the City Council.  Measures already implemented or underway include municipal energy efficiency upgrades, installation of LED lighting for 2,100 streetlights, and municipal solar energy projects.  

About the Fellowship position: 
Trees and forests are recognized as important components in climate resiliency. They act as carbon sink removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in trunks and soil; they provide habitat for wildlife; they cool our streets and cities; they protect against floods and water pollution; and, they benefit human mental and physical wellbeing.   

Outcomes: 

• City-wide Tree Canopy Inventory using LiDAR data
• Build expertise in nature-based solutions for climate resiliency
• Enter data on carbon stocks in ICLEI’s ClearPath tool to evaluate costs/benefits of different scenarios
• Document methodology that can be used by other municipalities
• Communication between committees with similar interests and being able to effectively convey key information to interested parties

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic Background: Geographic Information Systems, Environmental or Climate Change sciences, Engineering
• Experience: Utilizing GIS to create models and process data (must have sufficient knowledge and experience to be able to work independently)
• General / Soft Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, a strong willingness to learn and ask questions, good problem-solving skills
• Technical / Specialized Skills: ArcGIS
• Interests: Sustainability, community resilience, climate change, community engagement, data science, scenario modeling, natural climate solutions

Location:  
City of Concord, City Hall, 41 Green Street, Concord, New Hampshire 

Mentor:  
Beth Fenstermacher, Director of Specials Projects, City of Concord 

Enhancing Climate Education Through a Global Lens

The Climate Initiative 

Kennebunkport, ME
Position is remote

About the Host Organization: 
The Climate Initiative (TCI) empowers youth aged 13-23 to take positive climate action through our three-pronged approach: 
Educate - Demystify climate change through tangible solutions, 
Empower - Instill in youth a sense of agency and leadership, and 
Activate - Catalyze youth to engage in community action. 

What began as a local initiative in Kennebunkport, Maine, has grown into a national movement.  TCI’s top-tier project-based programming was developed by three passionate educators collaborating from their respective organizations, The University of New England, Kennebunk High School, and the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust. By connecting students with their local landscape and helping them understand and address climate challenges in their community, from rising sea levels to warming oceans, the class was able to empower youth through local climate action, giving them a sense of hope and agency and bringing a global crisis to the local level. 

About the Fellowship position: 
As the climate crisis intensifies, educators worldwide play a pivotal role in empowering youth to drive solutions. While TCI’s Learning Lab resources assist educators in incorporating climate topics, activities, and action projects into their classrooms, we recognize that many barriers remain to implementing climate education. We understand that climate science can be confusing, polarizing, and difficult to navigate in the classroom. Many educators are not trained in climate science or education, leaving them hesitant to lead discussions on the topic. However, we firmly believe that climate education should be rooted across subjects, exposing students to the intersections of the climate crisis. Therefore, in addition to offering curriculum modules and annual retreats for educators, TCI is aiming to provide a mini-series of independent professional development courses.  

Outcomes: 

1. Assess existing programs for international educators – Conduct focus groups and interviews with current international educators and other stakeholders to evaluate the current resources and gather feedback on their effectiveness from the international perspective.
2. Align resources with SDGs – Review existing educational materials and make adjustments to better connect with the SDGs, and the UN Green Education Partnership, emphasizing global and Indigenous perspectives.
3. Enhance international relevance – Incorporate international needs and perspectives into resources through relevant articles and case studies, and further TCI’s work on an international landscape analysis.
4. Streamline communication – Improve the process of communicating with international educators and collecting and amplifying their climate action stories.
5. Implement educator feedback – work with the team to create a detailed plan for continued feedback collection and integration with the international sector to ensure effective outreach and meaningful impact 

Desired Qualifications: 
The Sustainability Fellow will need to have a passion for tackling the climate crisis and furthering TCI’s mission. They need to be a detail-oriented self-starter who can work independently and communicate with team members effectively. Strong research, project management, communication skills, and some knowledge of climate education will help them be successful in their project. The fellow will ideally be majoring in environmental science, sustainability, education, international studies, political science or related subjects. 

Mentor:  
Alexa Sabatini, Programs Coordinator

Accelerating Climate Action: GHG Inventory, Analysis, Roadmap

City of Nashua, NH

Nashua, NH
Position is in-person

About the Host Organization: 
Nashua, New Hampshire (pop. ~91,000), is the second-largest city in the state and a regional hub for commerce, culture, and innovation in the Merrimack Valley. As a municipality, the City of Nashua is committed to building a resilient and sustainable future, as codified in our guiding document, the "Imagine Nashua Master Plan." The Plan sets forth clear, measurable goals for environmental stewardship and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. Our dedicated Sustainability Department serves as the catalyst for these initiatives, working across all municipal departments to implement energy efficiency, clean energy generation, sustainable transportation, and waste reduction strategies that improve both our environment and the quality of life for our residents. The department also uses the Livable Nashua Sustainability Plan as a critical guiding document, which establishes the specific, actionable steps needed to achieve the larger goals outlined in the Master Plan. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Nashua, like other municipalities globally, faces the urgent challenge of mitigating climate change while maintaining essential public services. Effective climate action requires a clear, data-driven understanding of current environmental performance. The City of Nashua has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability through the Imagine Nashua Master Plan, which establishes specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets for its own municipal operations. However, without a recent, comprehensive inventory and a rigorous analysis of progress against the 2016 baseline, the City's ability to prioritize future investments and policy changes remains constrained. This fellowship project is crucial to providing the foundational, current data necessary to transition the City’s climate commitment from planning to effective execution. 

Outcomes: 

• 2024 GHG Emissions Summary: A final GHG inventory showing the total metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO₂e) emissions for 2024, broken down by sector.
• Comprehensive Final Report: A formal document presenting all findings and comparison data, including detailed, feasible policy and investment recommendations that specifically align with or expand upon the action items defined in the Livable Nashua Sustainability Plan. Fellow with support from their Mentor will create a  report suitable for presentation to the Mayor's Office, Board of Aldermen, and relevant departments.
• Final Presentation: A prepared slide deck summarizing the project's methodology, key findings from the 2024 inventory and 2016 comparison, and the final prioritized recommendations. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Must be full-time student or recent grad pursuing a degree in a related field (e.g. environmental science, sustainability, planning, renewable energy or energy efficiency, public policy/administration)
• Preference for candidates that have participated in Climate Action Clinic
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas accounting protocols (e.g. ICLEI Local Government Operations (LGO) Protocol) or ability to learn new software tools quickly (i.e. ICLEI ClearPath tool).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Ability to create outreach materials and graphics, demonstrating design skills.
• Interest in public outreach and ability to communicate complex technical data to a non-technical public audience.
• Interest in understanding the social justice lens and the co-benefits (like air quality and freed-up taxpayer dollars) of municipal emissions reduction efforts.
• Experience with local government is a plus
• Experience with data processing and analysis, and scenario modeling.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record. 

Mentors:  
Levent Akinci, Sustainability Planner, Sustainability Department
Deb Chisholm, Sustainability Manager, Sustainability Department 

Greenhouse Gas Inventory 

City of Portsmouth, NH 

Portsmouth, NH
Position is in-person or hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The City of Portsmouth’s Planning & Sustainability Department serves as the municipal hub for integrating long-range planning, sustainability, and climate action into local government and community efforts. Portsmouth has a longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, having been declared an eco-municipality in 2007, which embeds principles aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and harmful substances and promoting ecological resilience in all city decision-making. The department has been instrumental in leading the development and implementation of “Portsmouth’s Climate Future,” the City’s first comprehensive Climate Action Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2024 after extensive community engagement and research into both municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions. This plan provides a roadmap to net-zero emissions, sets goals for municipal operations and community emissions reductions, and establishes priority strategies for mitigation and adaptation — forming a strong foundation for tracking greenhouse gas emissions. Portsmouth has previously completed four greenhouse gas inventories (e.g., 2006, 2012, 2018, 2021) and the department’s prior experience with emissions accounting, combined with its ongoing role in implementing the Climate Action Plan and enhancing data-driven decision-making, makes it an ideal partner for a fellowship project that aims not only to produce a 2025 emissions inventory but also to develop an improved template and system for data collection and reporting that can streamline future inventories, strengthen consistency, and better inform both municipal policy and community actions going forward. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The City of Portsmouth has a longstanding commitment to sustainability. The City became an Eco-Municipality in 2007 and committed to building only green municipal buildings of which it has completed a LEED Silver Library, Fire Station, and Water Treatment Plan and a Collaborative for High Performance Schools certified Middle School. The City has been tracking its greenhouse gas emissions using a few different tools in the past such as the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives or ICLEI software, and more recently, the UNH Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform, or SIMAP. The inventory will be compared to past studies previously to assess how well the City has been doing in reducing its Greenhouse gas emissions while also creating a new and improved data template and workflow for future inventories.

Outcomes: 

1. 2025 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (Municipal + Community) 
   A complete, methodologically sound greenhouse gas emissions inventory for calendar year 2025, following ICLEI ClearPath or comparable protocols. This includes:
   1. Data collection, transformation and cleaning
   2. Emissions calculations for municipal operations (buildings, vehicle fleet, streetlights, wastewater, solid waste, etc.)
   3. Community-wide emissions analysis (residential, commercial, transportation, waste, etc.)
   4. Visualizations, trend analysis, and comparisons to prior Portsmouth inventories
2. Emissions Inventory Technical Report 
   A formal written report summarizing the 2025 inventory findings, including:
   1. Data sources and methodology
   2. Emissions trends and key drivers
   3. Identified data gaps and recommendations
   4. Suggested strategies to improve emissions tracking consistency and frequency 
      This report would be intended for public release and City Council/community communication.
3. Standardized Data Collection Template & Tracking System 
   A redesigned, future-ready inventory template for ongoing municipal use. This may include:
   1. Excel or Google Sheets-based templates with automated formulas
   2. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for where/how to collect each data type annually
   3. A data dictionary defining fields, sources, units, and responsible departments
   4. A recommended schedule for updates: This deliverable is meant to institutionalize the process so future inventories can be completed in a standardized fashion more efficiently and consistently beyond the fellowship period.
4. Presentation to City Leadership & Community Stakeholders 
   A slide deck and presentation summarizing methodology, findings, and recommended next steps, tailored for the Sustainability Committee and the general public

Desired Qualifications: 
An academic background that supports the applicant’s understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions are created, the ability to review different data sets select and enter the appropriate data into a software program designed to track and report on greenhouse gas emissions. The applicant will need computer skills in word processing such as Microsoft Word, data processing programs such as Excel and the ability to learn new software which is used in the data collection and reporting process. The applicant will need to be able to interview people to gather information and access information. They will need to be comfortable talking with City staff and others who will be the source of the greenhouse gas emissions data that needs to be collected.  

Location:  
Portsmouth City Hall, 1 Junkins Avenue, Portsmouth, NH.  

Mentor:  
Kate Homet, Environmental Planner, Department of Planning & Sustainability, City of Portsmouth

Maine Climate Action & Regional Engagement

ClimateWork Maine 

Portland, ME
Position is hybrid or remote

About the Host Organization: 
ClimateWork Maine (CWM) is a statewide nonprofit coalition dedicated to advancing climate action by supporting businesses, organizations, and communities with resources, education, and collaborative opportunities. Our mission is to accelerate Maine’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy by engaging diverse sectors and empowering local leadership. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Many rural and northern Maine communities have limited access to statewide climate resources, business networks, and tailored guidance. Strengthening these connections can unlock economic opportunity, workforce development, and pragmatic climate action for small and mid-sized businesses across the state.  

Purpose and goals:  
The Regional Connections project will expand ClimateWork Maine’s reach into rural and northern regions by partnering with local Economic Development Centers and Chambers of Commerce, delivering practical resources, and fostering engagement around climate action, workforce needs, and rural opportunity. The Fellow, working closely with and receiving ongoing support from CWM’s Program and Outreach Manager, will design and pilot a replicable outreach model—building presentations and one-pagers, coordinating mini-summits, curating resource bundles, engaging with stakeholders and partners, and gathering feedback to inform future statewide programming. The mentor will provide guidance on strategy, access to tools and templates, outreach to partners, and regular check-ins to help the Fellow refine approaches and navigate challenges. This collaborative approach is intended to catalyze durable local leadership and provide a model that peer organizations can adapt across Maine and the Northeast.  

Outcomes: 

• Tangible deliverables for ClimateWork Maine. The final mix will be scoped with the Fellow; not all items may be required. The Fellow will receive mentorship and access to organizational resources to support each deliverable.
• Outreach strategy and partner engagement plan (target regions, partner list, contact log, outreach calendar), developed with guidance from the staff mentor and relevant CWM partners.
• Adaptable slide decks and one-page handouts tailored to rural audiences and sectors, with templates and content support from the mentor.
• Curated “resource bundles” for rural businesses (funding, incentives, technical assistance, workforce programs, starter actions), with help identifying vetted sources and statewide programs.
• Two to four coordinated engagement activities (e.g., mini-summits, workshops, webinars, or partner roundtables) with agendas and notes, supported by CWM logistical resources and mentor oversight.
• Short feedback synthesis memo summarizing survey/interview themes on needs, barriers, and opportunities.
• Replicable outreach toolkit (templates, sample scripts, workflows, tracking structure) and a brief roadmap for scaling the model statewide

Student learning outcomes:  

• Builds practical outreach and stakeholder engagement skills by assisting the Program Manager with planning and facilitating conversations with rural businesses and partners.
• Strengthens communication and synthesis skills through developing audience specific presentations, one-pagers, and resource bundles.
• Gains experience in equity-centered program design by tailoring an outreach model for rural communities and reflecting on lessons learned.
• Organizational impact and change  
• Provides ClimateWork Maine with a tested regional outreach model that can be adapted and scaled across Maine.
• Deepens relationships with Economic Development Centers, Chambers, and other local partners in rural and northern regions.
• Creates durable tools and insights that inform CWM’s long-term strategy for engaging underrepresented communities in climate action—with the Fellow contributing meaningfully while supported by staff expertise.

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic background

• Pursuing or recently completed studies in environmental studies/management, public policy, business, communications, community development, or related fields. 

Experience  

• Prior community, campus, or business outreach; stakeholder engagement; or organizing experience preferred.
• Experience creating presentations and summary briefs/one-pagers is a plus. 

General / soft skills

• Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to groups.
• Relationship-building mindset; professional follow-through.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive; able to manage multiple tasks. 

Technical / specialized skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace (Docs/Slides/Sheets).
• Comfortable with basic survey tools (e.g., Google Forms) and shared file systems.
• Basic research and synthesis skills (collecting public data, summarizing insights). 

Interests  

• Rural economic development, small business needs, and practical climate action.
• Maine’s business landscape and cross-sector collaboration. 

Location:  
ClimateWork Maine, 44 Quebec Street #3, Portland, Maine (Physical Address) 
P.O. Box 15021, Portland, Maine 04112 (Mailing Address)  

Mentors:  
Sophie Piette, Programs and Outreach Manager (Primary Mentor)  
Jeff Marks, Executive Direct

Seacoast Tourism Trends & Economic Impact

Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce  

Hampton, NH 
Position is in-person

About the Host Organization: 
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce serves the Seacoast towns of Seabrook, Hampton Falls, Hampton, Hampton Beach, North Hampton, and Rye, New Hampshire. Representing local businesses and supporting community initiatives year-round, the Chamber promotes economic growth, strengthens tourism, and fosters connections among residents, visitors, and the business community. The organization also manages and staffs the Hampton Beach Information Center and collaborates closely with municipalities, lodging partners, and state tourism agencies. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Hampton Beach is one of New Hampshire’s most visited destinations, yet there is currently no comprehensive system for tracking visitor demographics, regional origins, travel behaviors, or evolving tourism patterns. Recent fluctuations in cross-border travel—particularly changes in visitation from Canada—have raised concerns about economic resilience and the long-term stability of the region’s tourism economy. Understanding who visits, when they come, and how broader social and economic factors influence their experience is essential for developing data-driven marketing, infrastructure, and community planning strategies. 

Outcomes: 
The Fellow will begin by developing a comprehensive visitor data collection plan and sampling strategy. Throughout the 2026 peak season, the Fellow will conduct on-site data collection across Hampton Beach and engage local businesses to produce summaries of economic impacts, observed trends, and qualitative feedback. All primary and secondary data will be compiled into an integrated dataset to support meaningful analysis. The Fellow will identify key trends, create visualizations, and translate findings into a final written report with actionable recommendations for marketing, planning, and economic development. At the end of the fellowship, the Fellow will present their results to the Chamber Board, the Hampton Beach Village District, and regional economic development partners. 

Desired Qualifications: 

Location:
Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, 47 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton, NH 03842. 

Work will be performed fully in-person to complete research and data collection. Hybrid model can be applied if necessary, but it is necessary for a majority of the work to be completed on site.   

Mentors:  
John Nyhan, President, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce 
Amanda Heintzelman, Project/Program Technical Advisor 
Additional support from Chamber staff 

Ecosystem Sustainability Stewardship 

Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership 

Rockland, ME
Position is fully in-person

About the Host Organization: 
The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a transformative learning community on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Our mission is to integrate scientific research and education to develop leaders prepared to address environmental issues through year-round educational programs and a seasonal, environmentally sustainable island community. Through experiential education programs and research opportunities in STEM disciplines we aim to excite people about doing science and becoming leaders in the next wave of scientific discovery and environmental conservation. Being based on a remote, coastal Maine island, provides both challenges and opportunities to develop specialized sustainable energy, waste, water, and food systems (agriculture and aquaculture), which offer unique and engaging hands-on education opportunities focused on sustainability. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Sustainability Steward Fellow will have the opportunity to engage with Hurricane Island’s summer science programs for middle and high school students and Hurricane Island’s marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, and the sustainable energy, water, waste, and food systems. Global sustainability is engrained in all of Hurricane Island’s education programs, from the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable innovations, and the infrastructure that keeps the island running. The Fellow will engage with program participants on multiple levels with a focus on learning, teaching, and critical thinking around the sustainability of the marine ecosystem and the sustainable innovations that are supporting critical marine industries.  

Outcomes: 
The first part of the Fellowship will be spent learning about the sustainable systems and the marine ecosystem surrounding Hurricane Island. The Fellow will work closely with the Assistant Director of Education to gain a baseline knowledge of the rocky intertidal zone flora and fauna, local fisheries, planktonic communities, the significance of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine, and trophic shifts due to climate change. The Fellow will also work with our Facilities Manager to understand the systems which keep the island running. On a smaller scale early on, the Fellow will also work with our research team to understand our aquaculture systems and engage students in the harvest and consumption preparation of sustainable shellfish and sea vegetables. As the Fellow becomes familiar with the systems on the island, they can begin to engage in hands-on science communication practices along with our education team, educating visitors to the island about marine ecosystem sustainability and operating off the grid through informal learning opportunities like intertidal invasive species management, sustainability walks, coastal resiliency lessons, volunteer days, and short workshops.  

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic Background

• Current undergraduate student

Experience

• Familiarity with the marine ecosystem
• Familiarity with environmental sustainability
• Involvement in community service projects, leadership, and social and environmental justice
• General familiarity with aquaculture
• Interest in working with racial and ethnic minority groups, English language learners, urban youth, low-income communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, people with special needs, and other groups that are underrepresented in the field of environmental education

General / Soft Skills

• General comfort leading formal and informal learning experiences with middle and high school students
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching
• Demonstrated initiative to identify and complete projects and work independently or as part of a team with minimal supervision
• Comfort in coordinating and facilitating meetings
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills  
• A growth mindset including a willingness to be coached and openness to feedback
• Commitment to equity and inclusion within our community and participation in a culture of continual learning around equity and inclusion work

Technical / Specialized Skills

• Experience with environmental data collection and management would be a plus
• Capable of safely lifting 50 lbs or weight and working on unstable surfaces
• Interests  
• General interest in informal learning, place-based education approaches and science communication.  
• Ability and willingness to work and live in a remote island community with rustic and off-the-grid accommodations where all staff share living and work spaces 

Location:
The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership’s mainland office is at 19 Commercial St., Rockland, Maine. Work will be performed on Hurricane Island, which is 12 miles off the coast of Rockland. Housing and meals are provided on Hurricane Island. Hurricane island will provide transportation for all work-related events, and two round-trip ferry tickets each month for personal use.  

Mentors:  
Kyle Amergian, Assistant Director of Education & Programs 
Crickett Warner, Island Coordinator 
Will Galloway, Director of Education & Programs

Mission-Aligned Data Analysis

Prime Buchholz LLC 

Portsmouth, NH 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Prime Buchholz LLC was established in 1988 and has grown to become a leading, uniquely independent investment advisory firm providing comprehensive investment solutions for roughly 250 clients. Headquartered in Portsmouth, NH—with offices in Boston and Atlanta—Prime Buchholz was one of the first investment advisors to develop in-depth expertise in alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity, and real assets. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Our Fellow will work alongside the Mission-Aligned Investment (MAI) team to assess sustainability and diversity integration throughout our clients’ portfolios. This will include extracting, analyzing, and organizing sustainability and inclusion data through our proprietary scoring system, which the Fellow will spend considerable time determining how it may be streamlined. Additional responsibilities may include enhancing the Firm’s impact reporting and identifying ways to augment sustainability efforts at the Firm. 

Under the supervision of the Firm’s Mission-Aligned Investment team, our Sustainability Fellow will:

• Work with research professionals, external managers, and third-party data vendors to source mission-aligned-related information  
• Develop, or work to develop, an automated scoring rubric  
• Score investment managers with respect to sustainability and inclusion implementation
• Update information in our central data repository
• Utilize artificial intelligence in extracting mission-aligned related content from existing manager documentation and identify gaps in data
• Continue building upon the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) impact database
• If time permits, work with the MAI team to enhance impact reporting  
• Actively make recommendations to improve upon the survey, scoring rubric, and reporting, as well as recommendations to maximize impact of the Firm’s sustainability initiatives.
• Partner with the Firm’s other interns on a cross-functional project to be presented to senior management. 

Outcomes: 
Outside of the summer survey project, the Fellow will also work collaboratively alongside the Firm’s other summer interns on a firm-wide project.  

Desired Qualifications: 
We welcome students from a wide range of academic disciplines, however, preference will be given to those pursuing finance and/or investment management. Although there is greater emphasis on the use of automation this year, only a general interest/understanding is required. We look for students who have:  

• Ability to engage meaningfully and professionally with internal and external parties
• Strong communication (verbal and written) skills
• Critical thinker and strong analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Demonstrated success working independently/self-starter
• Flexibility
• Intellectual curiosity
• Comfortable with technology/systems 

Location:
Prime Buchholz LLC, 273 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, NH  

Mentor:  
Rachel Rymaszewski, Research, Senior Research Analyst 

Sustainable Fan Experience & Engagement

UNH Athletics

Durham, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture of Competitive Excellence, Leadership and Service, Engagement, Academic Success, and Respect, Integrity, and Inclusion. UNH Athletics is dedicated to supporting an environment in which student-athletes can thrive competing for conference and national championships, pursuing their academic, athletic, and personal goals, and becoming Wildcats for Life. 

About the Fellowship position: 
UNH Athletics seeks a Sustainability Fellow to support the department’s efforts to better understand and enhance fan engagement around sustainability. This role will focus on developing and administering a fan-facing sustainability survey, analyzing resulting data, and helping translate findings into actionable initiatives that promote sustainable practices and strengthen the fan experience. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Interest in sustainability, sports management, environmental studies, marketing, or related fields.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with survey tools or data analysis platforms is helpful but not required.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Learning Outcomes 
The intern will gain experience in: 

• Designing and conducting applied research in a real-world setting.
• Understanding fan behavior and sustainability attitudes within athletics.
• Translating data into practical strategies and recommendations.
• Contributing to sustainability programming in a large, community-facing environment. 

Location:
University of New Hampshire, Durham Campus, 145 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824

Work will be performed hybrid.

Mentor:  
The intern will be supervised by the Deputy Director of Athletics for External Operations or designee and will collaborate with campus sustainability partners as needed. Regular check-ins will ensure clear guidance, development, and progress milestones.

Designing Impact Measurement for Private Credit Investments 

TAVO

Newburyport, MA
Position is hybrid 

About the Host Organization: 
TAVO Partners is a mission-driven private credit firm that expands economic opportunities for overlooked founders who typically lack access to traditional capital. Operating across two integrated verticals—TAVO Capitalize (flexible, non-dilutive private credit), and TAVO Advise (strategic and operational advisory), TAVO supports resilient small businesses while maintaining focus on measurable social, environmental, and economic outcomes. The firm's approach centers on preserving founder equity and building long-term wealth for entrepreneurs from underserved communities. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Impact investors face a fundamental challenge: how do you measure whether capital actually creates the change you intend? This is especially complex when your mission includes multiple outcomes: business growth, job creation, environmental sustainability, and wealth building for historically marginalized founders. TAVO currently lacks the systematic infrastructure to capture, analyze, and communicate these outcomes across its two business verticals, limiting both internal learning and the ability to demonstrate impact to stakeholders. 

Outcomes: 
This fellowship will produce practical tools TAVO uses to measure and communicate impact across its portfolio. You'll work closely with the TAVO team throughout the summer and develop skills in framework design, data collection, and applied analysis. 

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic Background 

• Undergraduate students in sustainability studies, economics, business, public policy, social entrepreneurship, or related fields are encouraged to apply, though we welcome candidates from any major who demonstrate genuine interest in impact measurement, social finance, or quantitative research methods. 

Experience 

• Prior research experience through independent study, thesis work, or research assistantships is valuable but not required. We're looking for candidates with exposure to entrepreneurship, small business, or social impact work through internships, coursework, personal projects, or self-directed learning. Most importantly, we seek students with authentic curiosity about how capital creates social change and a desire to build practical tools that will be actively used. 

General / Soft Skills 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication: you'll be translating complex frameworks into practical tools 
• Structured thinking and project management ability; comfortable working from detailed execution plans 
• Intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge assumptions while remaining coachable and responsive to feedback 
• Comfort with ambiguity in a startup-like environment where you’ll have significant autonomy within defined parameters. 
• Ability to follow detailed instructions and execute against structured work plans with clear milestones and deliverables.   

Technical / Specialized Skills 

• Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas, charts) 
• Ability to synthesize research quickly and extract relevant insights from academic and practitioner literature 

Interests

• Genuine commitment to economic equity and inclusive entrepreneurship 
• Interest in the mechanics of how capital creates (or fails to create) social change 
• Desire to produce work that will be actively used, not shelved 

Location:
29 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 

Work will be performed hybrid

Mentors:  
 Adolfo Reinoso, Principal 
Allie Reyes, Analyst 

Sea Temperature & Storm Intensity Risk on Utility Infrastructure

Unitil

Exeter, NH
Position is remote

About the Host Organization: 
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering electricity, natural gas, and water in New England. Unitil is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Together, our operating utilities serve approximately 206,000 customers. We are committed to the customers we serve and the communities we support, and to developing the people, business practices, and technologies needed to provide dependable, safe, and sustainable energy service.

About the Fellowship position: 
Unitil is evaluating the physical effects of climate change on the company’s operations in order to learn how the company can implement mitigating actions or prepare to adapt to the uncertain future. As an electric and gas utility delivery company located in New England, having a better understanding of the effects of climate change would be helpful in assessing the risks associated with increasing sea surface temperatures and the resulting changes in storm frequency and intensity. Because the company owns critical assets such as substations, poles, wires, pipelines, and coastal infrastructure necessary to safely and reliably deliver energy to customers, understanding how stronger and more frequent storms could impact these assets is essential for effective planning and system resilience. In addition, changes in sea temperature can contribute to coastal flooding, erosion, and infrastructure degradation, all of which may have long-term implications for operations and capital investment planning.

Outcomes: 

The goals of this project are to analyze and document the risks that climate change poses to Unitil’s assets, specifically related to sea temperature rise and storm frequency and intensity, using a combination of public and purchased data sources alongside the company’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. The project will work collaboratively with Unitil’s engineering, operations, and emergency preparedness teams to assess exposure and vulnerability of key assets, identify areas of highest risk, and develop mitigation and adaptation strategies. These strategies may include infrastructure hardening, stormwater management, updated design standards, and long-term resilience planning to ensure the continued safe and reliable delivery of energy to Unitil’s customers.

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic Background

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, or a related discipline.
• Coursework in applied mathematics or statistics.

Experience

• Ability to read, understand, and apply global and regional climate models to localized regions.
• Understanding of utility operations and regulatory environments is a bonus. 

General/Soft Skills

• Ability to work independently, attention to detail, willingness to collaborate and communicate about climate related topics with multiple departments within an organization.

Technical/Specialized Skills

• ArcGIS / ESRI Products and spatial analysis
• Familiarity with statistical analysis tools and methods.
• Strong technical writing and research skills are a must.

Interests

• Interests in local climate change impacts in New England will be helpful in preparation of the final report.

Location:
Work can be performed online, with the option of site visits or in-person work at the Fellow’s discretion. 

Mentors:  
The mentors identified by Unitil are as follows:
•    Jackelyn Harris, Sustainability Impact Analyst
•    Charlie Kickham, Manager, GIS/CAD
•    Sara Sankowich, VP, Shared Services & Sustainability
With additional support from relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to:
•    Jacklyn Munguia, Manager, Business Resiliency & Continuity 
 

Strategic Design: Sustainability Philosophy & Guiding Principles 

RiverWoods

Durham, Exeter, & Manchester, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
RiverWoods is a not-for-profit organization operating three Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) campuses across Southern New Hampshire. Founded in 1994, RiverWoods has grown to nearly 1,000 combined independent living and supportive care units, offering a full spectrum of healthcare services and vibrant community life for older adults. Each campus provides peace-of-mind living with rich amenities, including full-service dining, fitness and wellness programming, creative arts spaces, walking trails, and ample opportunities for social connection. Grounded in the core values of community, sustainability, curiosity, be yourself and respect. RiverWoods fosters environments where residents and staff remain active, engaged, and connected. This project supports the next chapter of RiverWoods by strengthening its long-term vision to become a more sustainable organization while responsibly managing resources across each campus. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Working with key members of RiverWoods staff and leveraging baseline data from SIMAP and the Climate Action Clinic, the Fellow will help develop and refine a formal sustainability plan. By the end of the project, the Fellow will gain hands on experience in organizational sustainability planning, leadership, and collaboration across diverse teams while taking the lead on integrating and organizing input from a wide range of stakeholders including staff and residents. 

Phase 1: Articulate an Overarching Sustainability Philosophy

• Draft a unifying statement of sustainability that embodies the RiverWoods mission and values, integrating perspectives from staff, residents and leadership to serve as a foundation for environmental, operational, and cultural initiatives across the organization and its individual communities.

• Working with resident committees and staff from each community, identify and document how sustainability can be strategically integrated into operations, financial planning, and community life to create a shared culture of environmental responsibility and continuous improvement.

Phase 2: Establish and Apply Sustainability Decision Making Framework

• Assemble a core set of guiding principles and a structured decision-making framework (such as scorecard or matrix) to consistently evaluate and compare initiatives based on environmental impact, operational feasibility, and alignment with RiverWoods organizational values.

• Take the lead to apply this framework to identify a prioritized list of ten sustainability initiatives including both organization wide and community specific actions. 

Phase 3: Identify Long Term Goals

• Create a set of ambitious yet achievable long-term sustainability goals for RiverWoods as a whole and for each individual community, focusing on energy efficiency, emission offsets and operational improvements.

• Collaborate with administrators to integrate SIMAP data tracking with the RiverWoods business intelligence reporting system to continue monitoring emissions reductions overtime.

Outcomes: 

By the end of the fellowship, the Fellow will gain hands-on experience applying their knowledge and skills to tackle a strategic business challenge, driving meaningful change while navigating within a set of organizational boundaries. RiverWoods is deeply committed to professional development. This project offers a unique opportunity to work with the support of experienced mentors to advance your strategic planning, leadership and stakeholder engagement skills while working in a dynamic professional environment. The Fellow will have the opportunity to present their work to the RiverWoods Board of Directors, and if approved, the plan will be formally adopted and implemented, guiding organizational decision making and shaping long-term impactful environmental practices. Beyond RiverWoods, this framework can be shared with similar organizations providing a model for evaluating sustainability initiatives and creating a ripple effect of environmentally focused change. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Graduate Student in business, public administration, sustainability, environmental studies, economics, engineering or related field.
• Proficient in SIMAP and capable of organizing and analyzing large data sets.
• Strong collaborative mindset with the ability to engage staff and residents, listen to diverse perspectives and refine stakeholder input into pragmatic solutions.
• Exposure to organizational planning, project management & budgeting is a plus.
• Enthusiastic about making meaningful impact in a grass roots New Hampshire organization focused on maintaining a sense of community and mission to our residents. 

Location:
Work will be in a hybrid setting and ability to travel to each location is required for site visits. 

• RiverWoods Office: 121 Technology Drive, Suite A105, Durham NH 03824
• RiverWoods Durham: 14 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824
• RiverWoods Manchester: 200 Alliance Way, Manchester, NH 03102
• RiverWoods Exeter: 3 Adjacent Communities
• The Woods: 7 RiverWoods Drive, Exeter, NH 03833
• The Ridge: 10 White Oak Drive, Exeter, NH 03833
• The Boulders: 5 Timber Lane, Exeter, NH 03833

Mentor:  
Kim Gaskell – Chief Operating Officer – The RiverWoods Group 

Data Strategy and Partner Engagement for Microenterprise Success

NH Community Development Finance Authority

Concord, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) is a nonprofit state authority uniquely positioned to strengthen New Hampshire communities through partnerships with state and federal initiatives. CDFA distributes resources to municipalities, nonprofits, and businesses, guided by data, local insight, and collaboration. Its living strategic plan reflects a long-term commitment to community economic development, addressing workforce trends and infrastructure needs to help communities thrive. 

About the Fellowship position: 
New Hampshire’s economy relies heavily on small businesses—99% have fewer than 500 employees, and nearly half of the workforce is employed by them. Microenterprises (five or fewer employees) represent the smallest segment and often face unique challenges. CDFA supports this sector through its Microenterprise Program, investing $1.1 million annually to provide technical assistance, training, coaching, and small grants to approximately 300 low- to moderate-income microenterprises each year. 

Outcomes:

• Inventory and organize existing data from CDFA and Micro Partners
• Assess data quality and identify gaps limiting program impact analysis
• Analyze relationships between technical assistance, grant funding, and business success indicators
• Develop actionable recommendations for improving data collection and reporting

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic Background:  Business, economics, public policy, public health, or data science

Experience: Data analysis and quantitative research; qualitative research through interviews

Skills:

• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Ability to synthesize insights into practical recommendations
• Technical: Familiarity with data management systems and Excel or similar tools

Interests: Community economic development, small business ecosystems, inclusive strategies

Location:
CDFA HQ, 14 Dixon Avenue, Concord, NH 

Mentors:  
 

Advancing Circularity in New England’s Architecture, Construction & Engineering Landscape

Thornton Tomasetti 

Portland, ME
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Thornton Tomasetti optimizes the design and performance of structures, materials and systems for projects of every size and level of complexity. We are an independent organization of engineers, scientists, architects and other professionals who collaborate from offices worldwide to help you achieve your goals. We are committed to being a sustainable, diverse and enduring organization and the global driver of change and innovation in our industry. At TT, our staff is united in purpose to mitigate the risks of climate change by applying expertise in decarbonization and resilience. In 2022, our Portland, Maine office was voted Top 5 Best Places to Work in Maine. The 40-person office is home to members of the Structural practice, Transportation practice, and Sustainability/Resilience practice. It serves as the Center of Excellence for mass timber, whole life carbon, passive house and building science. The office has many active members of Women@TT, a professional alliance and employee network group that seeks to push the boundaries or corporate culture and personal potential. Additionally, the office is located in downtown Portland, ME which is situated on the Casco Bay and 10–15-minute drive from the coastal beaches. It is a growing city and great location to spend the summer months.

About the Fellowship position: 
This Sustainability Fellowship will investigate, strategize, and advance circular economy principles in New England’s Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry through a comprehensive ecosystem mapping effort that identifies gaps, opportunities, and emerging best practices in circular design and development. The Fellow will conduct targeted outreach and interviews with regional stakeholders—including architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, deconstruction/waste facilities, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and circularity-focused organizations—to assess current practices, barriers, and enabling conditions. The Fellow will analyze the regional landscape for material reuse, design for disassembly, adaptive reuse, and circular procurement practices, and will synthesize findings into practical guidance, scalable solutions and tools. The engagement will culminate in a strategic recommendations report identifying gaps and outlining actionable pathways to accelerate circularity in New England, providing market intelligence, potential partnership opportunities, and implementation strategies that position TT as a leader in circular AEC practices.    

Outcomes: 
Desired deliverables to include:  

• Ecosystem map and stakeholder directory: New England’s circularity  
• infrastructure and keep actors, programs, resources and partners  
• Interview insights memo  
• Strategic recommendations report & presentation deck  

This is an emerging topic for the AEC industry, and this Fellow will be on the forefront of research in the transition to a circular economy. The Sustainability and Resilience Practice of Thornton Tomasetti works with a wide range of colleges, universities, and other institutions (i.e. private schools, corporations, etc.) in New England and beyond. This research would be used to inform workshops, goal-setting and educational materials shared with our partner institutions to inspire pilot initiatives related to deconstruction, waste reduction and diversion, design for disassembly, repurposing of building materials and adaptive reuse. It is possible that the findings could be presented at industry conferences, depending on the outcomes of the research, and shared with partner organizations.  

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience with qualitative research methods (stakeholder interviewing, synthesis) and market/competitive landscape analysis.  
• Skills in data collection and visualization/mapping; ability to build simple inventories, matrices, or maps using common tools.  
• Familiarity with circular economy principles and a practical understanding of AEC practices, stakeholders, and project delivery methods.  
• Systems-thinking approach and strong written and verbal communication skills for professional outreach.  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; comfort with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI or similar) and basic graphic tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite).  
• Background or interest in architecture, engineering, construction, sustainability consulting, urban planning, or materials science is beneficial (not required).  

Location:
14 York Street, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04101  

Mentors:  
Bridget Kane, Associate, Sustainability/Resilience Practice, Portland, ME

The Power of Partnership: Reinvigorating a Life-Saving Initiative

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 

Concord, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) is the largest state agency, dedicated to promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all Granite Staters. Through innovative programs and strong community partnerships, NH DHHS addresses critical public health challenges, supports vulnerable populations, and fosters resilience across the state. 

About the Fellowship position: 
This Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognized suicide prevention initiative: the NH Gun Shop Project. The Fellow will lead a revitalization effort to update outreach materials, re-engage firearm retailers, and expand the program’s reach across New Hampshire. This project sits at the intersection of public health, community engagement, and cultural humility. This project promises to be both impactful and deeply rewarding. 

Outcomes: 

Outcome 1: Revamped Outreach Materials
Lead the redesign of collaborative and accessible materials for the NH Gun Shop Project. Tasks include reviewing existing content, incorporating stakeholder feedback, designing new visuals, and testing materials in pilot locations. 

Outcome 2: Stakeholder Engagement Strategy
Develop and implement a strategy to reconnect with key partners. Responsibilities include stakeholder mapping, conducting interviews/surveys, analyzing feedback, summarizing findings, and creating a plan for ongoing engagement. 

Outcome 3: Sustainability Plan
Create a long-term plan to maintain and grow the Gun Shop Project. This includes recommending institutional support, retailer engagement strategies, funding sources, evaluation frameworks, and integration with broader suicide prevention efforts.

Outcome 4: Replication Recommendations 
Produce guidance for adapting the Gun Shop Project model in more regions of the state or elsewhere. Deliverables include best practices, a replication toolkit, success factors, partnership opportunities, and scaling strategies that preserve cultural relevance. 

Desired Qualifications: 

Academic Background:

• Public health, psychology, sociology, communications, or related fields

Experience:

• Stakeholder outreach, qualitative research, or program evaluation
• Community engagement or public health communications

General / Soft Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Cultural humility and sensitivity
• Self-motivated and organized

Technical / Specialized Skills:

• Experience with survey tools or interview protocols is a plus
• Familiarity with firearm safety or mental health topics is helpful

Interests:

• Suicide prevention, public health innovation, and community-based approaches 

Location:
Department of Health and Human Services, 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 

Mentor:  
Jenny O’Higgins, Senior Policy Analyst, Division for Behavioral Health 
Additional support from the Suicide Prevention Council and NH Firearms Safety Coalition members 

Aquaculture Life Cycle Assessment 

UNH Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems 

Durham, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems (CSSS) is housed in the multidisciplinary School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE) with faculty from the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, NH Sea Grant, and UNH Extension. The Center was formed with a vision to establish a new paradigm in seafood production that supports the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. While a global perspective is necessary, change occurs at the local level with people. We can rethink how seafood is produced not only in the US, but around the world. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The CSSS operates an Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) fish farm. This farm is located on the coast of New Castle, New Hampshire, and consists of a floating platform with two net pens, moored to the ocean floor. The IMTA system produces steelhead trout for research and for commercial applications in the local seafood market. In addition to steelhead trout, the farm produces kelp and mussels, which are grown to offset the nutrient input from the fish, as these are extractive species. To rigorously examine the carbon footprint of IMTA practices in New Hampshire, we aim to implement a life cycle assessment (LCA) that quantifies greenhouse gas emissions in terms of CO₂-equivalents (CO₂e) per kilogram of harvested product. This will require detailed measurement of on-site energy consumption (kWh for pumping, lighting, and monitoring), fuel use for boats and vehicles, and the embodied carbon of construction materials and equipment. Feed inputs will be characterized using feed conversion ratios (FCRs) and associated emissions factors from ingredient production, transportation, and processing. For extractive components such as seaweeds and bivalves, carbon sequestration and nutrient uptake rates (g C or N sequestered per m² or per kg biomass) should be quantified and incorporated into net emission balances. Comparing IMTA results with monoculture baselines will highlight potential emission reductions and provide a quantitative basis for scaling sustainable aquaculture in the region. 

Outcomes: 

• We expect the final outcome to be a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the lifecycle of the AquaFort project in terms of CO₂-equivalents.
• We expect the Fellow to ultimately present and disseminate the findings from this project to their peers and others within the UNH community.  
• We wish to utilize the framework put forth by the Fellow for future LCA’s for additional renditions of the AquaFort in other parts of the country, as well as for other projects here in NH. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Earth Science, Biology, Engineering, or other related fields
• Experience in developing lifecycle assessments, carbon assessments, greenhouse gas inventories, or similar sustainability metric analyses
• Must be comfortable working in a team setting, with good communication skills
• Must be comfortable working with a diverse network of colleagues
• Should be comfortable being on a boat, and completing tasks on the water
  Must have strong organizational skills
• Must be comfortable managing large datasets
• Preferably have some experience with R Studio and Microsoft excel similar software to work with datasets
• The ideal candidate will be interested in marine science, seafood, and coastal ecology. 

Location:
Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, Morse Hall 113, Durham, NH 03824 

Mentors:  
Primary Mentor:  Michael Doherty, Research Project Manager II, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering 
Secondary Mentor:  Dr. Michael Coogan, Research Assistant Professor, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering 

The Future of Rural

Rē: The Regenerative School

About the Host Organization: 
Rē is a grounded 501(c)3 at the nexus of embodied education, social justice, environmental regeneration, and civic engagement activities. The mission of Re is to catalyze transformative learning to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Rē works through education, research and civic engagement activities to foster regenerative processes which add to the abundance and resilience of ecological, social and economic communities. 

The Future of Rural program reimagines education as a tool for systemic healing—co-creating with rural communities to address health inequities, empower local leadership, and cultivate ecological and economic resilience through participatory, inclusive learning. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Future of Rural program reimagines education as a regenerative force for social, ecological, and economic renewal in rural America. Addressing the systemic decline of essential services and opportunities in rural communities, the program uses Participatory Action Research (PAR) and regenerative education to co-create solutions that promote health equity, community agency, and ecological resilience. 

The Future of Rural model is intentionally replicable and adaptable across different geographies. As it expands, it offers a scalable blueprint for community-led education, potentially inspiring a national network of regenerative learning hubs that integrate health equity, environmental stewardship, and community leadership. 

Outcomes: 
This fellowship project centers on research related to the future of education, regenerative education, and the Future of Rural program. Fellowship activities include developing a comprehensive database, organizing a webinar, and engaging key stakeholders. The Fellow will contribute to refining the program’s regenerative education framework by gathering insights from students, rural community partners, and practitioners across alternative and community-driven education models. A core element of the project is the design and implementation of a community-engaged webinar, which will function both as a research tool and as a participatory platform for feedback and collaboration. 

• Conduct comprehensive research on higher education, regenerative education, and emerging innovations in alternative learning models, and develop a structured database to organize and track these findings.
• Foster a Network of Regenerative Practitioners: Build a cohort of graduates prepared to bridge education, community health, and ecology creating ripple effects of transformation across rural America and beyond.
• Produce a final report and research database summarizing findings, community insights, and recommendations for strengthening the Future of Rural program. 

Desired Qualifications: 
While specific academic degrees are flexible, candidates with experience or study in education, social sciences, sustainability, environmental studies, or community development will be best positioned to contribute meaningfully. A background in education for sustainability, social innovation, or rural studies would be advantageous but not essential. 

Location:
Rē: The Regenerative School, P.O. Box 824, Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334 

Work will be performed 100% remotely. All required tasks can be completed virtually, with mileage reimbursement available if travel is ever required. 

Mentors:  
The Future of Rural team is composed of accomplished leaders who are also founders and directors of their own organizations, bringing extensive experience in education, community development, and regenerative systems work. 

Municipal Carbon Accounting Update & Report

Town of Amherst, MA

Amherst, MA
Position is in-person, hybrid possible

About the Host Organization: 
The Town of Amherst, located in the picturesque Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is a diverse, inclusive community offering numerous educational and cultural opportunities. The Town is host to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and enjoys a tradition of open, professional, and high level of government services, quality education, support for open space and agriculture, and respect for its history. The Amherst Town Council has made a commitment to equity and sustainability as two of the driving goals for the Town Manager and as such are focus areas increasingly infused throughout town governance and municipal operations. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Town of Amherst established a 2016 baseline greenhouse gas emissions inventory in 2017. In 2019, the Amherst Town Council set emissions target reductions of 25% below baseline by 2025, 50% reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The town released a 2021 Climate Action, Adaptation and Resiliency Plan (CAARP) which identifies a Roadmap to meet 2025 carbon reduction goals. The Town seeks metrics to assess whether it has met its short term - 25% CO2 reduction goal as established in the CAARP. The 2017 inventory establishes the baseline by which the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is being measured. An updated inventory and supporting report will provide the data and an assessment of whether the town is reducing its emissions sufficiently to meet its long-term 2050 reduction goal.

Outcomes: 
The Town of Amherst is seeking a Community Carbon Footprint Fellow to create an updated Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory and a supporting report that will identify whether the town has met its short-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 2016 levels.  The report will provide analysis of where the town is most successfully reducing emissions and where additional efforts and focus may be needed on order to achieve its next goal of a 50% reduction below baseline by 2030.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience collecting and analyzing large data sets
• Demonstrated analytical skills
• Organized and systematic  
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Extremely strong communication (written, verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Interest in environmental science and sustainability issues pertaining to local government
• Demonstrated ability to work independently 

Location:
Amherst Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst MA 01002 

Mentor:  
Stephanie Ciccarello, Director of Sustainability, Town of Amherst, MA