NTC Senior selected as a 2025 Udall Scholar
With a passion for environmental justice, rising NTC senior Kosisochukwu "Kosi" Ifeji has been selected as a 2025 Udall Scholar. Since 1997, only two Tulane students have been awarded this highly competitive scholarship.
The Udall Foundation selects recipients based on commitment to careers in the environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. Each Scholarship provides up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses. Since the program’s inception in 1996, the Udall Foundation has awarded 2,008 Udall Scholarships totaling over $10.745 million.
Kosi is majoring in sociology and African studies and minoring in environmental studies and Latin American studies. Originally from Bangor, Maine, her interest in the environment and environmental policy began long before stepping foot on campus.
“I have been working on environmental justice initiatives since I was 15 years old, specifically helping draft and lobby for a state-level climate education bill in my home state of Maine. This bill passed in the Spring of 2022 with bipartisan support and over $2M in funding, and I’ve continued environmental policy work since then.”
While at Tulane, Kosi has continued to explore environmental issues, specifically focusing on clean energy and environmental justice policies across various states, and research on international environmental justice initiatives and their impacts on young women and girls.
“The work that I do is to support and ensure a healthy future for my community.”
With the support of this award, Kosi hopes to pursue a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology.
“I have a lot of various academic interests, but I want to bridge all of them together to reflect my intersecting passions, identities, and how interdisciplinary academic research can impact intersecting marginalized communities.”
In addition to monetary support, the Udall Scholarship program will connect Kosi with a community of similarly focused environmental scholars and program alumni. Winning this award was the result of hard work, dedication to environmental research, and committing to the Udall Scholarship application process. To support her in this process, Kosi worked with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowship Advising.
“Dr. Edith Wolfe and Dr. Thomas Spencer were great in helping me with my application, specifically helping me shape my narrative. They helped me frame my story to best communicate my passion for environmentalism and how this scholarship will support my future work.”
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To receive support with applying for opportunities like the Udall Scholarship, prospective applicants should contact fellowship advisors at the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. For more information about the Udall Scholarship, visit https://www.udall.gov/ourprograms/scholarship/scholarship.aspx.
