Shultz Energy Fellowships
Regional-, state-, and city-level efforts are essential in our fight against climate change, especially in the field of energy. Stanford University is committed to helping by integrating its students into energy and climate ecosystems in the West through the Shultz Energy Fellowships program (formerly Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West), an energy-related summer fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students.
Named in honor of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, one of the most widely admired American public servants of the past half-century, the program offers a suite of paid, energy-related public service fellowships for Stanford students in California, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii during the summer. Launched in 2016 by Dian Grueneich, an affiliated scholar at both the Precourt Institute and the Bill Lane Center, and Bruce Cain, Director of the Bill Lane Center and Professor of Political Science, the program is a partnership of Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy, Bill Lane Center for the American West, Haas Center for Public Service, and Stanford in Government.
Secretary Shultz served as the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution and was the chair of the Shultz-Stephenson Energy Policy Task Force. Having served in four different cabinet posts, taught at three universities and served as president of a major engineering and construction company, Secretary Shultz modeled the public service attributes we hope to develop in students.
Secretary Shultz passed away Feb. 6, 2021, at the age of 100. He was a paragon for many at Stanford and elsewhere for his ceaseless efforts to fight climate change and his strong support of sustainable energy policies.
Program Goals
- Create an avenue for Stanford students interested in energy to participate in influential, paid fellowships with energy-related government organizations in the Western United States.
- Provide municipal, state, regional and federal agencies with highly motivated Stanford students and supporting resources.
- Promote the spirit of public service to Stanford students and encourage them to consider public service positions after graduation.
- Educate students about the many opportunities to inform and shape critical energy policies, whether as public employees or private citizens.
- Build connections between Stanford faculty and students and government policymakers.