LEAD Scholars

Developing the next generation of environmental leaders

By Kristen Hummel (Environmental Management & Protection, ’24)

Future environmental challenges are substantial and growing, and developing environmental leaders with a range of experiences, backgrounds and identities is essential to addressing these challenges. Through the generous support of alumni, parents, and industry, the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department created the Leadership, Education, Application and Discovery Scholars Program (LEAD) to support development of the next generation of environmental leaders. 

Top row: Alexa Cango Ruiz (third year), Luke Mendoza (third year), Amelia DeEulio (second year), Bahar Vasli (second year), Seah Bernard (third year), Sophia Slucky, (first year).
Bottom row: Julian Durante (third year), Melissa Evans (fourth year), Lotte de Jager (first year), Kaitlin Davey (second year), Ezekiel Pearl (second year), Kelsie Burruss (third year), Madeline Mouw (third year).
 

LEAD was launched in January 2023 as a multi-year, cohort-based leadership program that combines education in natural resource management leadership with work on real-world applied land conservation, ecosystem management and resource sustainability challenges. Each student scholar receives an annual stipend and professional development funds to pursue an individual leadership project and hone their leadership experience. In its second year LEAD supported 13 scholars, representing all three NRES majors and the cohort is expected to grow again in the upcoming academic year.

LEAD scholar Luke Mendoza, third-year environmental management and protection major, is working on a project to reduce food waste at Cal Poly. His project idea was inspired by his work as a resident advisor (RA) in the yakʔitʸutʸu residential community. “As an RA, I see a lot of food go to waste from the dining hall and I know there is a better management strategy out there for food waste,” Mendoza said. He is working to identify waste hotspots on campus and come up with a way to reduce and manage it in a more sustainable way.  
  
Heading a project like this has allowed Mendoza to take on a unique leadership role in something that goes beyond the Cal Poly campus. He has honed professional skills like self-discipline and time management, while learning to be vigilant and effective with communicating in a professional setting. Mendoza has had the chance to collaborate with fellow scholars as well as professionals in the field of waste management, providing him with opportunities to build a broad network outside of Cal Poly.  

Through the LEAD program, Mendoza learned how to thrive in an independent work environment and to seek opportunities for himself and his specific interests through self-advocacy. Being faced with juggling school, work and his LEAD project compelled Mendoza to map out his priorities. Throughout the year, students like Mendoza meet weekly with faculty advisors to address leadership, problem-solving and project management topics.

Luke Mendoza, third-year environmental
management and protection major.

“The program provides you with a broad range of opportunities because they want you to work on something you love and something you're interested in. The LEAD program is less about results and more about wanting students to grow and sharpen their leadership skills,” Mendoza said.

LEAD Scholars also help lead the NRES Student Advisory Council, participate in the department’s student welcome activities during Open House and share the student experience to the NRES Advisory Council. The department, alumni and industry partners are proud of these efforts and grateful for all our students in the LEAD program and for their commitment to making the world a better place.

 

The San Luis Obispo County Community Fire Safe Council (SLO FSC) has supported the LEAD Scholars program for the past three years, including their most recent gift in August. Alumnus Dan Turner, Executive Director of the SLO FSC, is a strong proponent of investing in future leaders.

“The SLO FSC recognizes that natural resource management, including creating fire safe environments, is more complex and challenging than ever before," Turner said, "we are happy to support students through this unique leadership training program and encourage others to do the same.”

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Read more stories in the Summer 2024 Newsletter