We are
Workforce
Fellows.
We are visionaries, leaders, and the future of geoscience.
Discover if Workforce Fellowship
is right for you too. ↓
About Our Program
Navigating Home is excited to offer Workforce Fellowship opportunities to recent graduates (either on- or off-island) who originally hail from one of the U.S. territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Guam.
The Navigating Home project creates opportunities islanders in the geosciences to return home (or remain on-island and be retained if they have just finished their degree at one of our hubs) in order to contribute to the island workforce. Participants will include an intentional mix of career stages and lived experiences reflecting the rich island geoscience learning ecosystems in which we operate. Selected Fellows will be newly graduated and will work and learn alongside faculty from our affiliate universities and researchers and other professionals from our partner organizations.
How we are making a difference
Navigating Home brings together our islands’s geoscience learning environments. The project enhances connections and opportunities by helping Fellows, strengthening the local workforce, and establishing shared leadership systems among university and non-academic partners.
Over five years we will have supported 68 Fellows and 68 professionals from university and community partnering organizations in transdisciplinary geoscience enrichment opportunities.
Project Goals
Bring back, train, and retain islanders who have Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in the marine and environmental sciences, and who are interested in being part of their home island’s workforce
Strengthen partnerships between island-based universities and their local partners through joint decision-making and co-design
Provide transdisciplinary training related to public engagement with science and community engagement
Transform geoscience culture through these innovative strategies and partnerships that will serve as model examples within and beyond the island communities in which they are based.
On Mentoring
Mentoring is a key component of Navigating Home as we create transformative and lasting change in our geoscience and learning ecosystems. Mentors and Fellows work together to establish expectations and track progress over the term of the fellowship.
“The Workforce Fellow program was a wonderful way to increase the strength of partnership between our organization and the University, leverage resources and increase diversity in our staff.”
Meet Workforce Fellow Chloé Camacho
“Hi! I am Chloé Camacho, Workforce Fellow with the USVI Hub.”
A native to the island of St. Croix, Chloé graduated from the University of the Virgin Islands with a Bachelor of Science degree. While exploring different aspects of the marine science world she discovered a passion for coral restoration. Working under the guidance of Dr. Marilyn Brandt, Chloé learned about the Navigating Home Workforce Fellowship position which she applied for and began in the Fall of 2023.
In her Fellowship she works as a lab technician, helps maintain corals in the nursery and engages the community through outreach activities.
Chloé has applied for her Masters of Marine and Environmental Studies program and hopes to begin in the Fall, 2024.
Is Workforce Fellowship Right For You?
If you hail from one of our island Hubs and think becoming a Workforce Fellow is right for you or, if you aren’t certain and would like more information, reach out to your Hub for more information. We are excited to connect with you!