Fellowship Focus: Ambrose Pattullo Fund empowers creative storytelling
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EmailDepartment of Community Sustainability graduate student Tyler Swanson was recently awarded the Ambrose Pattullo Graduate Fellowship for his short story “The Way Through.”
A graduate fellowship in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) is sparking creative opportunities while providing much-needed financial stability for students.
The Ambrose Pattullo Graduate Fellowship annually supports one student whose literary submission brings attention to a current environmental issue or challenge. Administered through the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife (FW) and Community Sustainability (CSUS), eligible entries include fiction or nonfiction manuscripts that tell a compelling story and reflect the writer’s personal connection to the topic.
Tyler Swanson (’28), a Ph.D. candidate in CSUS, was recently named the 2026 Pattullo Fellowship recipient for his short story entitled “The Way Through.” Grounded in his own research on solar energy development, Swanson’s fictional short story explores tensions in rural communities surrounding the transition to renewable energy sources.
In addition to a $3,500 award, his short story will appear in the June 2026 issue of Spotlight Magazine, an annual publication produced by FW that highlights graduate student research and outreach initiatives.
For Swanson, support from the fellowship provides vital financial security at a pivotal moment in his graduate student experience. “At a time when my research assistantship is uncertain, the Ambrose Pattullo Fellowship has played a crucial role in providing me with financial stability,” said Swanson.
This financial assistance is helping him stay on track academically, allowing Swanson to prioritize his research without having to take on a second job.
“I am deeply grateful to the donors who made this opportunity possible. Because of their support, I can focus on my research rather than worrying about how to pay my bills. Peace of mind like that is increasingly hard to come by.”
In addition to financial support, the experience has boosted Swanson’s confidence as a writer. Not having written creatively since his time as undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, working on his submission allowed Swanson to “stretch his creative legs.” Swanson hopes to continue finding opportunities to translate his research into engaging stories that educate broader audiences.
A dual major in CSUS and the College of Social Science’s Environmental Science and Public Policy program, Swanson plans to graduate in 2028. His work focuses on developing renewable energy policies that are environmentally sustainable and equitable. Informed personal experience working directly with farmers and solar energy developers, Swanson seeks to identify solutions that build trust and transparency.
“My research is about finding the best ways to compensate communities for hosting renewable energy development,” he said. “The goal is to help rural communities use renewable energy to their benefit.”
While pursuing an advanced degree can feel intimidating, Swanson said his experience in graduate school has been deeply gratifying. He hopes to remain in academia after graduation, finding a role where he can apply his love of teaching, research and outreach.
“Few things feel more rewarding than developing relationships with the communities that you work in, creating new knowledge and sharing that knowledge with the world,” said Swanson. “I hope to teach classes on energy policy and geography, and I want to continue doing research that directly benefits communities.”
You can support the Ambrose Pattullo Graduate Fellowship here.
