Grant in the Spotlight: Wyss Scholars Program

The Wyss Foundation is excited to announce a grant to each of the six Wyss Scholar host schools. The Wyss Scholars Program supports the graduate-level education of a new generation of leaders in US land conservation. Wyss Scholars learn the latest developments in conservation policy and law, and apply that knowledge in their future careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation organizations.

Wyss scholarships are awarded to students currently enrolled at one of the six host schools: Lewis & Clark College (Law), Northern Arizona University (Environmental Science and Policy), University of Colorado (Law), University of Michigan (Environment and Sustainability, and Law), University of Montana (Environmental Studies, and Law), Yale University (Environmental Studies, and Law).

 Congratulations to the host schools and the 2025 cohort of Wyss Scholars!

Lewis & Clark College (Law)

Shoshana Grossman came to law school from a background in land management with a desire to effectuate change in the world of land conservation and protection, specifically at the intersection of public lands, waters, and Indigenous law. Shoshana has engaged with her community at Lewis & Clark as a public lands project coordinator for the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, a board member of the Native American Law Students Association, and an incoming Environmental Law Review form and style editor. For her 1L summer, Shoshana worked as a clerk for Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. She will work for Western Environmental Law Center in Montana this summer.

Tory Dille works for Earthjustice’s Northern Rockies Office and previously worked as a law clerk for the Center for Biological Diversity, focusing on Endangered Species Act litigation to protect imperiled carnivores and their habitats. As a grant writer for Earth Law Center, she gained exposure to international environmental law, representing the organization at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Colombia.

University of Colorado (Law)

Andrea Shipton has had the opportunity to intern with two federal agencies, the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, which have granted her key, up-close exposure to some of the nation’s most important environmental laws and conservation regulations. Outside of her studies, Andrea is the president of the Adventure Club, the vice president of the Environmental Law Society, and the incoming managing editor of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal. She is excited to return to the environmental nonprofit world this summer as a law clerk in Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office.

Obie Johnson began at the University of Colorado Law School in 2023. His guiding principle has been to engage in environmental law actively. This initiative began with research work for the Getches-Wilkinson Center in the Fall of his 1L year and has continued through his membership in the Environmental Law Journal, Natural Resources Clinic, Environmental Law Society, and the Colorado Law Animal Legal Defense Fund. Obie’s career goals align with his work experience at the Center for Biological Diversity and his upcoming summer internship with Earthjustice’s Florida Regional Office. He wants to spend his days litigating to protect the environment as well as writing to advocate for more reform of environmental statutes.

University of Michigan (School of Environment and Sustainability, and Law)

Adam Kaminsky is pursuing dual degrees at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability: a Master of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Science in Ecosystem Science and Management. Adam focuses on integrating the powerful tools of landscape architecture with the field of land conservation and restoration. Specifically, he is committed to improving rural working landscapes from cultural and environmental perspectives.

Ruth Kazmerzak is a student in Environmental Policy and Planning at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability. Ruth's focus at the University of Michigan is collaborative approaches for engaging scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in creating resilient conservation solutions to benefit ecosystems and communities. 

Elise Longley is a second-year law student at the University of Michigan. Elise serves as an executive editor for the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law. She is a member of the Michigan Climate Venture, a student-run investment fund supporting climate tech startups in the Great Lakes region. She spent a summer interning at Great Rivers Environmental Law Center in Missouri and is currently interning with the US Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division. After graduating, Elise plans to utilize her law degree to promote land conservation in Minnesota and nationwide.

University of Montana (Environmental Studies Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, and Law)

Lila Bennett is a law student at the University of Montana. Raised on a farm in rural Maryland, Lila grew up with a strong connection to the land and a passion for conservation. She found her love for the West while working seasonal jobs managing cattle and horse herds in Wyoming. Lila hopes to combine her love for the outdoors and her passion for protecting public lands in her legal career. She is currently the secretary of her school’s Environmental Law Group and is conference editor, planning the 41st Public Land Law Conference for the Public Land and Resources Law Review.

Cloe Sliva is pursuing a Master of Science in Resource Conservation at the University of Montana, where she is exploring how watershed-scale environmental planning can be used to further conservation goals, restoration projects, and protect one of the most precious resources in the West. After school, Cloe hopes to continue in conservation planning to help protect natural resources, landscapes, and communities.

Yale University (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Law)

Terra Baer is a J.D. candidate at Yale Law School, where she is the Student Director of the Yale Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic, co-president of the Yale Environmental Law Association, and a LEAP Fellow, among other roles. As a law student, she is focused on developing legal strategies that bridge environmental protection and social justice frameworks, advocating for policies that restore degraded landscapes while creating sustainable economic opportunities for affected communities. She views abandoned mine land reclamation as an environmental necessity and an opportunity to redefine conservation, prioritizing both people and place, and ensuring that the land and those who call it home can thrive together.

Toby Bokum-Fauth is a candidate for a Master of Forestry at the Yale School of the Environment. Most recently, he worked with the US Forest Service to establish the Wildland Fire Academy, supporting wildfire crisis strategy landscapes and communities. At Yale, Toby is stepping back from his working life to deepen his knowledge of conservation science, which he considers essential for effective leadership in the conservation field.

Juhi Parekh is pursuing a Master of Environmental Management degree at the Yale School of the Environment, where she focuses her studies on the intersection of environmental justice and land and wildlife conservation. Her experiences in urban environments with BIPOC communities have inspired her commitment to equity and justice in wildlife and land conservation. At the Yale School of the Environment, Juhi is a member of the Student Affairs Committee and serves as a research assistant for the Alumni Office.

Northern Arizona University (Environmental Science and Policy)

Shawna Woody is a member of the Navajo Nation Tribe. Her traditional clans are Red Running into Water, Honey Combed People, Bitterwater, and Coyote Pass People. This is how she identifies herself as a Dine (Navajo) woman. Shawna completed the Research Assistance Mentoring Program at Northern Arizona University, where she focused on identifying culturally significant medicinal plants within the Emory oak ecosystem. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University; her research explores the effects that pollinators and flowering plants are experiencing in response to bison grazing on the north rim of the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab Plateau in Arizona.

Kenna Dinsdale is embarking on the journey of post-secondary education through Northern Arizona University’s Environmental Science and Policy master’s program. Kenna is researching remote sensing applications for monitoring large-scale restoration projects. Kenna is committed to contributing to the future of conservation by learning about science-policy communication and improving her understanding of the connection between nature and technology.

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 About the Wyss Foundation — The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land.