Meet the 2025 Class of NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows

Each year, NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows support the advancement of NWF Education and Engagement programs through dedicated research projects. This research helps to expand the content and development of a variety of efforts across NWF’s Education and Engagement programs while also providing the student Fellows with the opportunity to develop their research and professional skills.

Meet Vishal Kennedy

Vishal Kennedy, the 2025 National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student EcoLeader Community Research Fellow, is a doctoral student researcher in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Originally from India, he holds both a B.S. and M.S. from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), where he served as General Secretary of the Student Affairs Council and led several committees focused on scientific outreach and sustainability education.

His passion for energy, environmental policy, and youth engagement was shaped through these early leadership roles and has only deepened with experience.

Vishal’s academic and professional journey extends from the Western Ghats to Western Australia, with five diverse internships spanning field ecology, science communication, and environmental policy. These experiences helped him integrate technical knowledge with systems-level thinking and strengthened his conviction that effective solutions lie at the intersection of science, communication, and inclusive design.

He was recognized by the National Wildlife Federation for authoring a federal policy memo on conservation and flooding in the Mississippi River Basin and also completed a robust set of actions to earn the EcoLeaders Environmental Justice Badge, including community outreach, education, and policy advocacy in support of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Through the EcoLeader Community Management Fellowship, Vishal will explore data-driven strategies to improve the platform’s digital experience, community design, and gamification features, aiming to create more meaningful pathways for youth leadership and engagement in conservation.

Vishal aspires to build a career at the intersection of environmental policy, sustainable energy systems, and digital innovation and management within mission-driven, sustainability-focused institutions where strategic design and inclusive policy can drive lasting environmental change.

“At its best, youth leadership isn’t just about taking initiative, it’s about designing systems that invite others in. That’s what excites me most about this fellowship, the chance to apply my passion for sustainability and environmental policy toward building a more intentional, engaging digital space for emerging leaders.

The EcoLeaders platform is already a powerful concept, a national hub where young changemakers connect, get recognized, and grow. I believe there’s untapped potential in refining the experience, strategically using data, behavioral insights, and design thinking to enhance how users move through the platform, feel a sense of momentum, and remain invested.

From thoughtful onboarding to reimagined gamification, I’m thrilled to explore how digital architecture can better reflect the energy and depth of the youth it’s built for. And if I can help make it just a little more fun along the way, even better.”

Meet Eliza Kirsch

Eliza Kirsch, the 2025 National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student Wildlife Education Research Fellow, grew up in Colorado, where weekends spent camping, skiing and white-water rafting fostered a deep love of the outdoors and a desire to protect both wild places and the species that depend on them. She went on to Occidental College, joining a research lab focused on the evolution and conservation of birds; hands-on fieldwork and bench experiments there solidified her commitment to conservation biology.

As a current Ph.D. student in Marine and Environmental Biology at USC, Eliza harnesses conservation genomics and wildlife ecology to generate actionable strategies for safeguarding California’s native fauna.

Her dissertation explores three themes: the genomic consequences of habitat fragmentation in saltmarsh sparrows, the toxicological impacts of wildfires and anticoagulant rodenticides on urban mesocarnivores, and the behavioral responses of bobcats to artificial light at night.

A passionate science communicator, Eliza participates in outreach events at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and develops hands-on environmental biology themed workshops for elementary students through USC’s Fun Interactive Science Hour.

She admires the National Wildlife Federation’s blend of scientific rigor and community engagement and looks forward to strengthening wildlife education programs through her research under this fellowship.

She is especially excited to connect with NWF’s affiliate organizations to learn more about their work, and to gain further experience in wildlife education, bridging the gap between academia and outreach to inspire conservation action across diverse audiences.

Meet Monet Raths

Monet Raths, the 2025 National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student Project Management Research Fellow, is currently a graduate student in the MBA program for Climate Ready Business at Unity Environmental University.

She holds two prior master’s degrees, one in Marine Biology and the other in Wildlife and Conservation Management. Her thesis topics included climate change and polar bears in North Slope, Alaska: human-polar bear interactions and understanding the impact of whale-watching boat noise on odontocetes in the Azores.

In between her degrees, Monet volunteered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Pennsylvania on a project aimed at propagating native thistles to support the endangered regal fritillary butterfly, which currently has only one remaining habitat.  She also participated in a native turtle survey at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. 

As a seasoned traveler, each year Monet guides small groups to different international destinations. Focused on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities for transformational travel, she organizes activities that connect her travelers with local communities. 

These activities include visiting animal shelters and participating in snare recycling workshops in South Africa, engaging in conservation efforts, visiting schools, and exploring animal welfare organizations in Uganda, as well as street dog rescue and beekeeping efforts in Thailand. Connecting her visitors to locals broadens perspectives and fosters personal growth. Igniting a deeper sense of empathy and cultural understanding is a crucial aspect of her travel experiences.

Monet has several years of experience as a project manager, and previously worked as a training manager, where she served as an adult educator with a focus on enhancing leadership skills. Supporting the mission of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) within the Education and Engagement Department’s Project Management Office (PMO) is an exciting opportunity for her.

In her first week, she discovered the incredible foundation the team has created in the new PMO which will not only support but enhance projects and programs within NWF.  She is eager to dive in and get busy. This fellowship will facilitate a great desire to work within the conservation space and contribute to a greater cause.

Meet Jessica Soulliere

Jessica Soulliere, the 2025 National Wildlife Federation Graduate Student Native Plant Habitat Education Research Fellow, is completing dual master’s degrees in landscape architecture and environmental policy & planning at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability.

Jessica founded Potager Garden Design and The Ferry Street Nursery Project, emphasizing the use of native plants in landscape design, ecological landscaping principles, and integrating stormwater management into every landscape.

Her current master’s capstone, “Detroit Regenerative Futures,” is exploring the use of gamification and augmented reality to inspire Detroit residents, developers and policymakers to adopt sustainable landscaping solutions. This project aims to simplify ecological design choices, influence city policy, and demonstrate economic benefits for developers and homeowners.

“My ten years in residential landscaping drove me to seek the skills and expertise to tackle larger ecological issues and policy barriers, like restrictive HOA regulations and invasive plant propagation. This fellowship lets me combine research and strategic thinking to support initiatives like the Certified Wildlife Habitat program, something near and dear to my heart. I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity.”

Jessica’s recent independent studies include researching the Miyawaki Rapid Reforestation method for urban carbon sequestration and investigating Australia’s approach to accessible and sensory landscape design. She has also collaborated with Planet Detroit News to develop accessible climate resilience guides for Detroiters and is a member of the Detroit Hamtramck Coalition for Healthy Communities.

With her diverse expertise and interests in ecological design, communications, and community engagement, Jessica actively supports the National Wildlife Federation’s mission to promote resilient, biodiverse urban landscapes.

Congratulations to our new class of Fellows! These Fellows join a national network of current and alumni fellows, many of whom have gone on to lead new businesses, agencies, and programs for sustainability all across the U.S. Read their stories and connect with them directly in the NWF EcoLeaders Community.