Yelloe flowers with building in the background

Student Impact

Student Impact

The Gonzaga Climate Institute engages Gonzaga students through a variety of classes, projects, and opportunities that enhance and deepen students’ understanding of the climate crisis, solutions, and our role in the Inland Northwest. Students work with the Climate Institute in different ways including:

  • Student employees
    • The Institute regularly employs a number of students to help support and advance our climate work. Current job opportunities are on our website and ZagsIgnite.
  • Academic internships
    • Students who work for the Institute often pursue academic credit, allowing them to connect their classroom learning with real world experience. More information on how to enroll in an internship. 
  • Course partnerships
  • Faculty-led research
    •  The Institute regularly publishes the results of its research. Students working with the Institute may have a chance to help inform that research or even participate in it as a partner.

Students that engage with the Climate Institute have direct and impactful experiences working with community-based organizations, local government, Tribes, K-12 students, and others. Students gain skills in science communication, professional workplace experience, community engagement, and more.

All staff of the Climate Institute
Climate Institute staff and students at the 2024 fall retreat.

 

Student Work

Students who work with the Climate Institute come away with projects, work artifacts, and stories that highlight their work and their meaningful experiences. Some examples of student work include:

Featured Alumni

  

Grace Fletcher - Education and Outreach Coordinator at Waste Management

Climate Literacy Fellow Mentor Class of 2024

Grace Fletcher
"I am working with city governments as well as private local businesses in the greater King and Snohomish county areas to ensure that their recycling, composting, and overall sustainability commitments are met and exceeded. The Climate Institute is what jump started my passion for outreach and community work. Without my experience as a Climate Literacy Fellow, I never would've realized how important and rewarding it is to work face to face with various communities every day. It also unlocked my love for educating and teaching my surrounding community members, which is fantastic in my new position when talking to cities, businesses and residents about the importance a small action can have in the realm of sustainability."
  

Olivia Hinds - Biologist - United States Geological Survey

Climate Project Assistant Class of 2024

Olivia Hinds
"I work at USGS FRESC (Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center) doing both Data and Delivery (updating fire databases and doing science communication for public access to our work via websites) as well as for the FIREs team that does field research on wildfire ecology as well as soil analysis and vegetation surveys. My time at the Climate Institute made me appreciate how much I need to feel like I am making an impact in my work. There, it was working directly with people in the community, and in my current role it is doing research to directly inform land management decisions via partnerships. In each I get to work alongside a diverse group of people which I have really come to appreciate from a workplace environment."

Student Impact

12

2024-2025 Student Employees

6

Class Partnerships

17

Student Alumni

5

Student Internships

Contact the Gonzaga Climate Institute