Nathaniel Liu ’26 Named 2025 Udall Scholar

Nathaniel Liu ’26 has been awarded an Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. Awarded annually by the Udall Foundation, these scholarships provide up to $7,000 in eligible academic expenses for future leaders in the environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields.

“The Udall Scholarship’s funding will help me continue to ground my education in real-world issues,” says Nathaniel. “It will also allow me to pursue enriching professional experiences, such as with local governments and small nonprofits that may not have the money to pay an intern.”

The Bridgeton, Maine, native will convene with other 2025 Udall Scholars at an orientation conference in August, where they will participate in professional development and training opportunities facilitated by environmental and Native professionals. “Being an Udall Scholar allows me to join a rich network of current and future leaders in my field,” Nathaniel says.

At Oberlin, Nathaniel is a triple major in environmental studies, East Asian studies, and politics, with a geoscience minor. He is chair of the Green EDGE Fund, a student board that allocates up to $300,000 annually for sustainable projects at the college and within the community. 

Nathaniel has also held leadership roles in the contra dance, folk music, and naturalist clubs; been an Oberlin Farmers Market musician; and worked as a photographer and videographer for the Office of Communications. 

The Udall identifies future leaders in environmental, Tribal public policy, and health care fields. Tell us about your work that aligns with one or more of these areas. 
In my volunteer and work experiences across the country, from the Pacific Northwest to Oberlin to Maine, I have communicated and pushed for solutions to regionally unique environmental issues. 

As an intern for the National Park Service in Washington and Oregon, I improved awareness of and response to climate change in the parks by distilling complex scientific reports for general audiences. In Oberlin, I am co-chair of the Green EDGE Fund. I have found building relationships with our community incredibly rewarding through investing in food justice, clean energy, or conservation projects.

I also serve as the secretary of the board of directors and executive committee of the Maine-based Western Foothills Land Trust, a conservation nonprofit in my hometown. Over several hours a week, I keep meeting minutes on Zoom, certify all board resolutions, and support staff by providing fresh policy or program ideas, reviewing budgets, and, most recently, sitting on the hiring committee for a new executive director.

I know that the questions I ask and the perspective I bring as the only director under age 30 make a palpable difference. I am proud of my work facilitating discussions on changing ecosystems and engaging conservation stakeholders. Through my work in the environmental field, I have learned how to engage diverse audiences and meet unique community needs.

How do your areas of study align with your career goals?
My Oberlin environmental policy and science education is grounded in practical experience: leadership on three unique boards and internships with Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the National Park Service. This spring, courses like Environmental Economics and Politics of Oil helped me more effectively consider clean energy projects in Oberlin for the Green EDGE Fund. 

Learning about permaculture in my agroecology practicum or food justice in my private reading allowed me to understand the importance of forever farms in western Maine and their role in conservation and local, sustainable food production. 

My East Asian Studies major and capstone allowed me to apply a comparative approach to environmental issues in the United States. A minor in geoscience provides me with a background in science for understanding land forms, water quality, and climate cycles. My interdisciplinary approach to environmental studies will prepare me for continued work in conservation-related nonprofit and governmental organizations.

What’s the best advice you’ve received from your Oberlin faculty mentors?
I had a number of conversations with my faculty mentors as I applied for summer internships in the early spring. I connected closely with Professor of Geosciences Amanda Schmidt during our Oberlin-in-London semester together. She recently reminded me that the most prestigious or selective internships might not necessarily be right for me. 

I had just spent months writing my application for the Truman Scholarship, in which I was prompted to outline my career path 15 years into the future. I had devised a future for myself as a conservation policymaker, interning on Capitol Hill before pursuing a master’s degree in public policy that would eventually set me up for a leadership role on the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. 

After being selected as a finalist, I saw a DC summer internship as my best option. Professor Schmidt helped me take a step back and remember that my motivation for environmental work stems from my commitment to my communities rather than in DC. Local-level work is what I want to do right now, so I should follow that passion. 

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