Mentorship at the Bren School provides structured opportunities for students to gain experience, guidance, and professional exposure beyond the classroom.
Through targeted fellowships and partnership programs, Bren connects undergraduates and graduate students in applied learning environments that strengthen career preparation and leadership skills. Below is an overview of the current mentorship initiatives.
- Bren Environmental Leadership (BEL) Program: A paid, 10-week summer fellowship that pairs undergraduates with Bren graduate student mentors to work on applied environmental projects with external partners or research teams, alongside professional development workshops and a public research presentation.
- Bren–Environmental Studies Fellows Program: A year-long mentorship and professional development program for UCSB Environmental Studies undergraduates, offering workshops, individualized mentoring, research and internship connections, and quarterly stipends.
- Bren Emerging Environmental Scholars (BEES) Program: A professional development program for PhD fellows focused on science communication and public engagement, working with 6–12 grade students from local school districts through outdoor experiential learning.
Explore opportunities for undergraduate mentoring
The Bren Environmental Leadership (BEL) Program offers paid, 10-week summer fellowships designed to catalyze the careers of diverse students. Far more than a standard internship, BEL utilizes a unique mentorship model, pairing you with a dedicated Bren graduate student to tackle real-world challenges alongside major partners or through academic research. Beyond project work, the fellowship serves as a comprehensive professional launchpad featuring weekly career skills workshops, opportunities to present at the Mantell Symposium in Environmental Justice and Conservation Innovation, and access to the Bren School’s extensive alumni network, ensuring you gain the technical expertise and confidence to become a leader in the environmental field
As part of its effort towards increasing representation in the environmental field, Bren has partnered with Environmental Studies to develop the Bren-Environmental Studies Fellows Program. By identifying and mentoring UCSB undergraduate students from under-represented and low-income groups, the Program seeks to nurture their potential as emerging environmental professionals.
Designed to nurture the career aspirations of Environmental Studies undergraduate students, the Program offers:
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workshops in professional communication, resumes, networking, and interviewing, including practice interviews
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connections with Bren faculty, students, and alumni / ae
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1:1 mentoring with ES and Bren faculty, students, and staff
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information about research opportunities and internships throughout the academic year
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a stipend in the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters
For information and applications, please contact the Program Director alexzandria@bren.ucsb.edu
Explore opportunities for graduate mentoring
The Bren Environmental Leadership (BEL) Program offers paid, 10-week summer fellowships designed to expand your leadership toolkit while catalyzing the careers of diverse undergraduates. Far more than a standard research internship, BEL utilizes a unique peer mentorship model, pairing you directly with an undergraduate fellow to tackle real-world challenges alongside major partners or through academic research. Beyond applied problem-solving, the fellowship serves as a practical training ground for essential management, mentoring, and project leadership competencies while accessing the Bren School’s extensive alumni network and presenting at the Mantell Symposium.
The Bren Emerging Environmental Scholars (BEES) program offers PhD fellows a high-impact professional development experience designed to expand your leadership and science communication toolkits. PhD fellows engage middle school, high school, and community college students in hands-on, outdoor experiential learning. Far more than a standard outreach initiative, the program serves as a practical training ground for essential teaching and engagement competencies, allowing PhD fellows to translate complex research for public audiences – skills that employers and post-doctoral fellowships actively seek. The BEES program provides a rare opportunity to build a robust skillset, distinguishing fellows in a competitive market that increasingly values inclusive leadership and strong communication. Through BEES, PhD Fellows contribute to nontraditional STEM pathways to post secondary education. Simultaneously, BEES benefits from mentorship and learning communities, broadening their vision for potential career futures, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.