Four female students laugh with each other at a poster session

Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Graduate Scholars Award

Be part of our diversity and inclusion vision

As part of advancing Stanford University’s IDEAL vision and commitment to diversity (broadly defined), the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability has established the Dean’s Graduate Scholars program. This award supports outstanding incoming graduate students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and show the potential to continue their engagement in DEI service at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. The Dean’s Graduate Scholars receive tuition, salary, and research support. They are also part of a cohort that engages in professional development activities and annual Dean's lunches.  

Dean’s Graduate Scholars program

The awardee receives

  • Salary and tuition support for the first year of graduate studies at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
  • Scholar will be able to participate in professional development activities with a cohort of SDSS Dean’s Graduate Scholars during the first year of graduate studies.
  • Take part in a lunch with the SDSS Dean.
  • Receive up to $3,000 for professional development, research needs, and attending professional and/or DEI-related conferences or DEI leadership opportunities to be used within the first five years in graduate school. Examples of how this funding can be used: computing needs, workshops, and conferences such as AGU, GSA, SACNAS, AISES, Out in STEM, National Association of Black Geoscientists, Association for Women in Science, etc.
  • Recipients can include this award on their curriculum vitae.

How to Apply

Nominations are submitted by SDSS graduate admissions graduate program to the Dean’s office/DEI director. Prospective students must apply to one of the school’s graduate programs by the department/program deadline to be eligible for nomination. 

Deadlines and application information for each of our graduate degree programs may be found here:

Applicants are nominated based on academic qualifications and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the Earth sciences, energy, oceans, and engineering or in the broader field of sustainability as demonstrated through service/leadership or through research and academic or personal experience.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Background and Life Experience statement that is part of the graduate school application to illustrate how their research and/or service/leadership experience and/or personal background contributes to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the broader field of sustainability or in academia in general.

Notification 

Departments and programs will notify prospective students about admissions decisions by the end of winter quarter or early spring quarter 2023. If a student receives admission to a SDSS graduate program and is also selected as a Dean’s Graduate Scholar, they will be contacted by the DEI office to let them know that they have received this award. The DEI director will notify departments/programs about Dean’s Grad Scholars decisions as well.

Candidates will be evaluated by a committee based on academic excellence and their potential to support the School’s commitment to diversity through leadership, service, and/or personal experience. The committee can also take into consideration a faculty mentor’s ability to support the candidate’s research goals and to advance an inclusive working environment in the School.

2022 -2023 Dean's Graduate Scholars

  • Top left, top row: Teso Coker (ESS), Cat Lee Hing (E-IPER), Isabella Dula-Razzolini, 
  • Middle row: Leona Neftaliem (E-IPER), Raji Oluwatobi (ESE), Amanda Jackson (EPS), 
  • Lower row: Mario Ruiz (Geophysics), Katie Wu (E-IPER), Kylie Wadkowski (ESS), Arun Majumdar (SDSS Dean)
Steve Graham with grad students on field trip

Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability graduate programs

Learn more about our graduate departments, programs, and student life here.

Graduate Programs

SDSS deeply appreciates the value of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and defines diversity broadly to include first-generation/low-income background, as well as diversity of genders, physical and learning differences, sexual orientations and identities, veteran status, and work and life experiences. SDSS welcomes all who would bring diversity of perspective to the School's research and teaching missions. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity employer, and consistent with its obligations under the law prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law.