College Mentorship
The BGE College Mentorship Program is a six-month program designed for early-career BGEs. Each mentee is paired with an experienced BGE mentor who provides guidance on career planning, personal goals, and professional growth. Participants will connect with peers, attend professional development opportunities, and explore environmental career paths across sectors such as fashion, marine biology, philanthropy, and academia. At least 75% of participants will be students from HBCUs and/or community colleges. All mentees receive a professional development stipend upon completion.
why
Mentorship is needed. It's especially needed for BGEs who want to grow in their respective careers. It is no secret that Black girls and gender-expansive folk are starting from an unfair playing field that often shuts us out and holds us back. This is apparent in the environmental movement, where oftentimes environmental issues are portrayed as only being for white communities or are reduced only to nature-based issues. Which completely erases our communities from important decision-making and opportunities.
BGE’s College Mentorship Program is necessary to curate a safe space for early career Black Girl Environmentalist's to learn tangible skills that will assist them in securing internships, jobs, and advanced education. We are building a pipeline of training and support that does not reliably exist.
We aim to impact our community significantly by helping build the skills and knowledge for BGEs to thrive in their career and to contribute to the environmental movement. Not only will this program amplify the voices of BGEs as a united force fighting for environmental justice, it will create a growing network of us nationally.
The mentorship program will help BGEs discover their path in the environmental movement and how to use their unique talents and education to contribute to the field and affirm that they belong.
Program information
-
The application opens on March 25, 2024 and closes on April 26 at 11:59pm EST.
You can apply using the link here
You must submit using the official application link to be considered.
-
You are a current undergraduate university or community college student with at least one semester of schooling completed.
You are passionate about the environment and are eager to learn more about environmental career possibilities.
Able to express your goals for the mentorship program and actively engage in setting goals and communicating with your mentor.
Demonstrate openness to guidance, feedback, and support, with a growth mindset and willingness to learn and embrace discomfort.
-
This program will require a 20-30 hourly commitment with regularly scheduled meetings, fireside chats, professional development exercise over from the months of April to October.
-
Anyone living in any US State or Territory is eligible to apply. The mentorship program is virtual.
-
Application Opens 3/25
Applications Close 4/26
Applicants Notified 5/3
April - October Program Is Underway
-
Please email us at Elsa@blackgirlenvironmentalist.org for any questions or concerns.
Meet the 2026 Mentees
-
Madison Moore
College: Spelman College
Major: English major on the pre-law track
Mentor: Roishetta Ozane
-
Mishanti Johnson
College: Southern University and A&M College
Major: Urban Forestry with concentrations in Environmental Studies and Natural Resources
Mentor: Alaina Belton
-
Halima Bah
College: Spelman College
Major: Environmental Studies and minoring in Management and Organization
Mentor: Antoinette West
-
Destiny Gilliard
College: Fayetteville State University
Major(s): Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies
Mentor: Jamesa Johnson-Greer
-
Dee Davis
College: Stony Brook University
Major(s): Political Science with a minor in International Relations Studies
Mentor: Yejide Olutosin
-
Amaya Tyler
College: Florida Agricultural and
Mechanical University
Major: Environmental Science
Mentor: Dr. Timnit Kefela
-
Indigo Williams-Brown
College: Hampton University
Major: Political Science
Mentor: Raya Salter
Meet the 2025 Mentees
-
Madison Maxwell
College: North Carolina A&T State University
Major: Biological Engineering
-
Jamiya Barnett
College: The Ohio State University
Major: Public Management, Leadership, and Policy, with minors in Society and Environmental Issues and History.
-
Sierra Franco
College: North Carolina A&T State University
Major: Biological Engineering
-
Mia Dent
College: North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
Major(s): Political Science and Agricultural & Environmental Systems with a concentration in Environmental Studies
-
Jasmynh Stokes
College: Amherst College
Major(s): Environmental Studies and Black Studies
-
Syan Smoot
College: Morgan State University
Major: Civil engineering and spanish minor
-
Nia McKenzie
College: Spelman College
Major: Environmental Science
-
Amanda Eric
College: Pomona College
Major: Cognitive Science with a concentration in Human Centered Design
-
Miarri Phillips
College: University of Colorado Denver
Major: Sociology
-
Isa Marin
College: Florida Atlantic University
Major English
-
SaMiya Carroll
College: Washington University in St. Louis
Major: Sociology with a minor in urban studies
-
Tyra Alexander
College: Arizona State University
Building Programs for Black Girls by Black Girls
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are often sites of environmental injustice and are also places that are uniquely crafted to build future Black leaders. HBCU students are in a unique position of marginalization and disenfranchisement when it comes to resource access, healthy environments, career opportunities, and the climate. Black girls and gender-expansive folk are no strangers to this. Similar to HBCU students, community college students also face barriers to career development opportunities due to funding issues or lack of representation. This is why BGE is ensuring that at least half of the Mentorship Cohort is made up of HBCU and community college students.
We are working to close generational gaps by connecting early-career BGEs to well-seasoned BGEs who are excited to invest in the next generation of climate and environmental leaders!