2025
Mass Audubon Becomes First Organization in New England Selected to Host a Wyss Fellow
Press Release
October 23, 2025
Mass Audubon, the largest nature conservation organization in New England, has been chosen by the Wyss Foundation to host one of its fellows starting next year. The Wyss Fellows Program is a prestigious initiative that supports future conservation leaders being placed in invitation-only fellowships at sponsoring organizations.
Mass Audubon is the first New England nonprofit to be chosen as a landing spot for a Wyss Fellow.
“We’re honored that our work as a leading conservation organization has been noticed by The Wyss Foundation and grateful for this opportunity to help shape the future leaders who will help battle climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Jocelyn Forbush, Chief Conservation Officer at Mass Audubon. “This wonderful distinction aligns with our own Environmental Fellowship Program and is a crucial way to create equitable early career opportunities to encourage young people to enter the conservation field.”
The Wyss Fellows Program funds 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. Other organizations chosen to host Wyss Fellows include the Trust for Public Land in California, Blue Ridge Conservancy in North Carolina, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund in Washington, D.C., and Western Rivers Conservancy in Oregon.
At Mass Audubon, the fellow will support Policy & Advocacy where they will work on campaigns helping to design innovative policy solutions, conduct research, communications, and analysis in support of legislative priorities, engaging in grassroots community organizing, and elevating nature as a key solution to the twin climate and biodiversity crises. Initially, the Fellow will support the ongoing Nature for Massachusetts campaign to create a dedicated statewide funding source for land conservation and restoration.
The Fellow will be with Mass Audubon from 2026-2028, and anyone interested can apply online.
About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.