The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) at UC Santa Cruz sought to grow diverse leadership to strengthen conservation. The program ran for ten years, from 2015 to 2025, and supported 160 emerging leaders who are, in a myriad of ways, making critical contributions to transform conservation. Today, former Scholars lead the UCSC DDCSP Alumni Organization, and, together with former program staff and advisors, are continuing to develop mission-aligned programs to further strengthen conservation
The two-year program was built around two core experiences:
The first-year consists:
- of an eight-week, paid, intensive summer course integrating conservation design, leadership, and research experiences while traveling with a close group of peers and mentors
- Scholars lead their own original research in small groups
- Scholars interact with a diversity of conservation leaders
The second-year consists:
- of an eight-week, paid, intensive summer internship with a conservation organization or agency
- Past Internship partners have spanned conservation NGOs, government agencies and research labs across the country.
Scholar Benefits:
- Scholars receive a $4600 stipend each summer
- Scholars re-convene for a fully-funded professional retreat and workshop the winter after nationwide internships.
- Year-round support from DDCSP staff and support finding mentors at your home campus
- Scholars who complete the program become part of a growing scholarly and professional network of 700+ Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Our program will no longer be taking new cohorts
Funding for this program is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.