Stephanie Slocum, a graduate student in the Executive Master of Natural Resources (XMNR) program offered through the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, is helping out around the Center for International Research, Education, and Development (CIRED) this summer.

She has been participating in the development of a USAID grant proposal from its inception — conducting background research and writing. Soon, she will also participate in a strategic planning team for a grant project. Although she has been learning a lot about these processes during the XMNR program, getting real-world, hands-on experience with grant writing and project planning is a unique opportunity.

Each student in XMNR must choose an Individualized Development Project (IDP) — a type of experiential service learning project conducted through partners outside CNRE. CIRED is the partner Slocum chose for her IDP.

“I knew I wanted to use the systems thinking approach within my IDP and work in a situation where I could maximize my impact by working at the international level,” Slocum said. “Working with CIRED was a great fit.”

A systems thinking approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of major global issues, such as food, water, and energy — something both the XMNR program and CIRED are using to assess and address complex global challenges.

Tom Archibald, the executive director of CIRED, said the team is "delighted to have her contributing to this proposal and our other strategic grant work. We see it as a mutually beneficial relationship. Stephanie’s impressive performance and strong commitment to success demonstrate how much positive impact working with XMNR students can yield for a unit like CIRED.”

Slocum sees the time spent with CIRED as mutually beneficial as well. 

“Being part of this cohort has been an incredible experience. The program’s focus on leadership for sustainability has not only boosted my confidence but also instilled a sense of hope that I can make a meaningful difference in the world,” she said.

Slocum feels the work she is doing through the internship and all that she is learning through the XMNR program are leading her toward her future career goals — to work full time as a sustainability professional at an international level.