Wyss Fellows Program: A Second-Year Update
The Wyss Foundation is proud to highlight second-year Fellows in its Wyss Fellows Program, through which a $140,000 grant is awarded to each of the selected Wyss Fellowship host organizations. The program supports the training and development of future conservation leaders through a two-year fellowship at sponsoring organizations. Fellows gain experience in all aspects of conservation advocacy and attend annual week-long training programs.
Congratulations to the 2024-2026 cohort of Wyss Fellows for their achievements in the first year of their fellowship!
Grace Abernethy, Trust for Public Land
During her first year as a Wyss Fellow at Trust for Public Land, Grace had the opportunity to engage with landowners, state and county staff, and Wyss cohort members. From Orange to San Joaquin County in California, she worked on land acquisition projects to increase access to the outdoors and achieve community goals, including community health, coastal and waterway access, post-industrial revitalization, and Indigenous sovereignty. In addition to deepening her knowledge of conservation real estate, she enjoyed forming connections with passionate organizations and individuals who steward land and do impactful work in their communities.
Isobel Nairn, California Native Plant Society
Becoming a Wyss Fellow with the California Native Plant Society has been a transformative experience for Isobel. In her first year, she played a key role in the successful designations of Sáttítla Highlands and Chuckwalla National Monuments, helping to protect more than 800,000 acres of public lands. Through this work, she has built lasting relationships with the Society’s staff, volunteers, partners, and the Tribes whose leadership is central to national monument efforts. From direct outreach to social media strategy to policy advocacy, Isobel has embraced every aspect of movement-building. She looks forward to continuing her work to secure lasting conservation victories for California’s native plants and public lands.
Felix Wang, California Environmental Voters Education Fund
Felix is the Public Lands Fellow for California Environmental Voters Education Fund. In his first year, he collaborated with multiple coalitions across the state to expand two national monuments (Berryessa Snow Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains) and designate two new ones (Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands), protecting more than 950,000 acres of land in California. He spearheaded two educational public outreach events to engage and involve the LGBTQ+ community with the California desert. He also organized workshops and logistics for the California Global Biodiversity Working Group’s delegation to the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16 CBD), ensuring that California’s 30x30 efforts were amplified on the international stage. Felix has provided vital support to elevate California Environmental Voters Education Fund’s outreach, education, partnerships, and advocacy to protect California’s public lands.
Elijah Dwoskin, Western Rivers Conservancy
Elijah’s first year with Western Rivers Conservancy was filled with valuable work experiences, both in and out of the office. He played a critical role in ensuring the long-term protection of the West’s rivers by developing funding applications, mapping and researching conservation opportunities, promoting projects to stakeholders ranging from local ranchers to government officials, and becoming a strong asset to the organization overall. Working alongside the Lands team at Western Rivers Conservancy in the second year of his fellowship, Elijah is excited to continue his professional growth in land conservation and develop and manage projects to save the great rivers of the West.
Braden Meyer, West Virginia Land Trust
Braden, working as a Wyss Fellow at West Virginia Land Trust, is building new landowner relationships for the organization’s land protection program. Braden has applied his communication skills to advance organizational land acquisition priorities and utilized his new knowledge about land trust policies, priorities, and procedures on various assignments. In March, he led the purchase of parcels that will be part of a new Elk River Trail public access park. In addition, Braden actively stewarded other land trust properties. Whether monitoring remote canyon tracts protected for rare bats, building trust with landowners during discussions about conserving their properties, or maintaining a trail alongside City of Morgantown volunteers, Braden has had a positive impact on conservation efforts in West Virginia.
Andrea Bonadiman, Friends of the Owyhee
For Andrea, the first year as a Wyss Fellow has been nothing short of transformative. From day one, they brought energy, creativity, and a deep-rooted passion for the Owyhee Canyonlands to every aspect of their work, especially as a local voice during the Protect the Owyhee campaign. One of their signature contributions has been the creation of Friday Fact. This weekly educational post takes the public on deep dives into the flora, fauna, and natural wonders that make the Owyhee landscape so special. Andrea also helped launch Land Insight, a social media series that visually and thoughtfully highlights key areas, values, policies, and stories tied to land protection. Throughout the year, they participated in a range of coalition meetings, bringing a strong, grounded, local voice to policy discussions and planning sessions. This fellowship has also had a personal impact, opening the door to employment with Friends of the Owyhee and creating a pathway to lifelong connections in the conservation world. In their own words: “The fellowship and position with Friends of the Owyhee opened the doors to find ‘my people,’ of like-mindedness who work toward the common goal of conservation.”
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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.