Sustainable Development Goals Futures Fellowship

The SDG Futures Fellowship is aimed at educating students about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), leadership, and professional development. This fellowship program spans the academic year and is open to college students from the 11 RCE Greater Atlanta affiliated higher education institutions (HEIs). 
 
This is a unique opportunity for students to learn more about sustainability challenges in and around Atlanta and around the world, as well as how communities can organize to tackle these issues. The application for the September 2025 – April 2026 cohort is open. 

Commitment: Approximately 5 hours/week (unpaid fellowship)

Eligibility: Students aged 17–29 enrolled at one of the 12 Higher Education Institutions affiliated with RCE Greater Atlanta (Agnes Scott College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Clark Atlanta, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and the University of Georgia)

Position Overview: Passionate about sustainability, inclusive prosperity, and community impact? Want hands-on experience applying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to real-world challenges in the Atlanta region? The RCE Greater Atlanta SDG Futures Fellowship is an eight-month leadership and professional development program designed to empower student leaders through community centered sustainability work. Fellows will engage with community partners to plan and execute local action projects aligned with the SDGs, build professional skills, and expand their networks across education, government, nonprofit, and industry sectors. This program is co-led by Georgia Institute of Technology and Kennesaw State University and serves as the primary youth engagement program of the RCE Greater Atlanta Network, a United Nations-recognized coalition of institutions advancing sustainability through education and action.

Key Responsibilities:

• Participate in professional development sessions (virtual and in-person) that build leadership, communication skills, and systems thinking.
• Complete SDG learning modules to deepen your understanding of global and local sustainability frameworks, with an emphasis on inclusive prosperity and environmental stewardship.
• Work as a collaborative team with other fellows and a local community partner (~5 hrs/week) on a project that addresses a sustainability challenge aligned with the UN SDGs.
• Collaborate with mentors and project leads from nonprofit, academic, or business backgrounds to develop and implement your action project.
• Present your final project and findings at the in-person Fellowship Graduation Showcase in April 2026.
• Earn the Sustainable Development Goals Future Fellows microcredentials through Kennesaw State University’s Department of Global Education. Fellowship Benefits
• Leadership and career development with real-world project management experience
• Certificate and Digital Badge from Kennesaw State University upon program completion
• Networking with peers and professionals committed to sustainability and social impact
• Access to alumni programming and leadership pathways within the RCE network Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: ● Be aged 17–29 and currently enrolled in one of the 12 RCE Greater Atlanta-affiliated higher education institutions ● Demonstrate interest or experience in sustainability, social impact, or community engagement.
• Commit approximately 5 hours per week to project and module work from September 2025–April 2026
• Be available to attend required virtual and in-person sessions and complete assigned learning modules: Schedule Summary
• Show a collaborative mindset and commitment to inclusive prosperity.

How to Apply:

Application Open: 8/1/2025

Deadline to Apply: 09/07/2025 at 11:59pm

Application Questions? Contact: Anna Tinoco-Santiago at atinocosantiago1@gatech.edu or Maria Ceballos at mceball1@kennesaw.edu

Apply Here!

The following students were 2024-2025 Fellows:

• Cherry Nallamalli - Georgia Tech
• Genesis Price - Spelman College
• Josef Rodriguez - Morehouse College
• Karrington Garrett - Kennesaw State University
• Mae Ratliff - Georgia Gwinnett College
• Nneka Otuonye - Georgia State University
• Ola Sade - Georgia State University

The cohort met for the first time in November.  They also took the Global DISC assessment to enhance their cultural and self-awareness, led by trainer Todd Shinholster of Culture Bridge.  Throughout the semester they worked with seven community partners to impact a variety of SDGs in the Atlanta area.

The fellows shared their projects as part of KSU's 8th Annual Equinox Program, receiving feedback from Dr. Roger Petry of Luther College in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. Petry currently serves as the Co-coordinator for the Saskatchewan RCEs, and formerly served as Advisor to the Americas Region RCEs. He was sponsored by KSU's "Year of Country Study" program, which focused on Canada during the 2024-2025 academic year.

The fellows presented their final project reports at the annual Atlanta Global Studies Symposium on April 4 at the Georgia State University College of Law Center.  

• Center for Sustainable Communities
• Life Cycle Building Center
• Morehouse School of Medicine: Center for Excellence on Climate and Environmental Health (CoE)
• My Green Earth
• Praise House Project
• Re:Loom
• Wundergrubs

The SDG Futures Fellowship grew out of Kennesaw State University’s Distinguished SDG Ambassador Program. The program fostered youth leadership by teaching students about the SDGs through local and global case studies and action projects with community partners from the Global RCE Network and RCE Greater Atlanta. The Fellowship is co-led by Georgia Institute of Technology and Kennesaw State University, in partnership with the other HEIs within the RCE Greater Atlanta network.
 
The Fellowship provides a minimum six-month leadership and professional development experience for a select group of students enrolled in RCE Greater Atlanta HEIs.  The RCE Greater Atlanta is a network that is acknowledged by the United Nations University and has been successfully operating since December 2017 with many partnerships in place. RCE Greater Atlanta aims to advance the SDGs, while nurturing strong youth leaders.  
 
The fellowship program uses the SDGs and the Global RCE Network as a framework for problem-based learning focused on local sustainability challenges. In addition to preparing students to pursue careers that have an impact or incorporate SDG impact into other fields of work, the program promotes long-term partnerships between Fellows, community-based and nonprofit organizations, HEIs, and the RCE Greater Atlanta network. 

The fellowship commits to: 

• Educating students about the UN SDGs
• Exposing students to SDG-related problems and solutions both locally and globally  
• Training students to advance the UN SDGs in their daily and professional lives
• Helping students incorporate “impact” into their definitions and pathways for career success 

For inquiries, please contact KSU's SDG Futures Fellows partners: The Office of Sustainability and the Office of Global Education.

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