VNRLI Program and Application Details

Enhance your effectiveness as a natural resource professional 

The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is for natural resource professionals in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who live or work in Virginia. Fellows leave the program with knowledge and skills in the follow areas: 

• Emerging and significant natural resource issues in Virginia
• Personal and professional leadership styles
• Conflict management
• Collaborative problem solving
• Community engagement

Program Details

Themes & Curriculum

VNRLI's curriculum focuses on: natural resource issues, personal and professional leadership, and collaborative problem solving. 

Natural Resource Issues: Fellows will engage with recent and emerging natural resource issues through field trips, panels, and collaborative exercises. Recent topics include biomass energy production, wetland mitigation banking, natural resource public policy development and lobbying, agriculture at all scales, and coal mining and coal mine remediation. 

Leadership: Fellows will develop their own leadership skills by refining their leadership values, developing a personal mission statement, practicing techniques for having challenging conversations, and building trust. Fellows will complete leadership personality assessments and discuss how to work with personalities different from their own. 

Collaborative Problem Solving: Fellows will practice conflict management and collaborative problem solving skills including active listening, consensus building, developing ground rules, leaning into dialogue versus debate, and developing opportunities for mutual gain. 

Program Schedule

VNRLI hosts six sessions per class, hosted September through June, at locations across the state. 

Sessions typically begin on Wednesday mornings and end Friday by midday. Start/end times are subject to change dependent on the session.  Please note that at Session 5 in April, Fellows arrive on Tuesday evening.  

Sessions feature a wide range of teaching methodologies, including mini-lectures, panels, and large group and small group exercises. This process emphasizes hands-on experiential learning via case studies and field trips that give participants opportunities to develop and practice skills taught in the classroom. 

2026-2027 Program Dates and Topics

Applicants are asked to carefully consider their availability before applying. 

*Topics are subject to change, but serve as an example of past curriculum components at each session. 

Orientation: August 26, 2026 2pm-3pm (virtual)

Session 1: September 23-25, 2026 – Location TBD

Topics: Active listening, structured dialogue, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test, leadership values identification, biomass burner tour

Session 2: November 18-20, 2026 – Hampton Roads

Topics: Conflict management, group norms, initiating challenging conversations, Chesapeake Bay water quality, field trip to active wetland mitigation bank construction

Session 3: January 13-15, 2027 – Capital Region

Topics: Lobbying and the legislative process, personal mission statements, General Assembly tour

Session 4: March 3-5, 2027 – Shenandoah Valley

Topics: Agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley, utility-scale solar, practical exercises on collaborative problem solving, field trip to dairy

Session 5: April 27-30, 2027 – Southwest Virginia

Topics: Public engagement, rural economic development, coal mining and coal mine remediation

Session 6: June 9-11, 2027 – Central Virginia

Topics: Open space group process, personal leadership goals, values and ethics of leaders, emerging topics in natural resources

While we understand that unexpected absences may occur, in order to receive a certificate of completion, Fellows may not miss more than one session in entirety or  three separate days (24 hours of content) out of the 18 days. 

Program Fee and Financial Aid

Program Fee

The program fee for the 2026-2027 Program Year is $3950. The program fee includes printed materials and leadership text, entrance or transport fees for field trips, and at least one lunch and one dinner at each session. It does not include additional meals, lodging, or personal travel to and from the session. The program uses the University of Virginia’s travel rate when arranging lodging and meals. 

Payment for the class of 2027 is due by September 11, 2026. 

Financial Aid

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to cover the program fee. In some circumstances, VNRLI may be able to offer support for lodging and mileage. VNRLI recognizes that our society needs leaders who have a deep understanding of the impacts and opportunities of pressing natural resources, social, and economic challenges. We seek to invest in the careers of exceptional, passionate leaders from all backgrounds and ensure that our program reflects the geographic, demographic, and sector diversity of our state.  

Requests for financial aid are made in the application by describing the need (250 words or less) and indicating the amount and type of assistance (tuition, lodging, mileage, etc.) being requested. All requests for assistance are confidential.  

How to Apply

Who Applies to VNRLI

The application process is open to individuals who work on natural resources in Virginia. Applicants that live outside of Virginia can be considered if their work impacts Virginia. Applicants typically come from state agencies, non-profits, private industries, small businesses, academia, and regional or quasi-governmental organizations. 

Participants are selected each year in a process that includes short essay questions and one professional reference. 

We seek to invest in the careers of exceptional, passionate leaders from all backgrounds and ensure that our program reflects the geographic, demographic, and sector diversity of our state. 

Application Portal Instructions

Cooper Center Account Instructions:

• Access the 2027 VNRLI Application directly via the Cooper Center Portal.
• Create a Weldon Cooper Center account by submitting a registration form (personal and contact information). 
  • In the dropdown titled "Which program are you interested in?" select "Institute for Engagement and Negotiation".
• To complete your registration in the system, check for an email from CCPS, create a password, and log into the portal.
• Under the "Select a Service" dropdown tab in the upper left, select "Institute for Engagement and Negotiation".
• The grey header bar will refresh with new options. Select the "New Applications" dropdown tab. 
  • If you are returning to an application, select "My Applications" instead.
• The application has three parts: Personal Information & Essays, Education, and Employment History. Part 1 (Personal Information & Essays) is the only part of the application with multiple screens that may necessitate saving progress. To save progress, you must proceed to the end of the section (final screen displays "Participation Agreement") and select “Next”. A new screen will display “Review your application here.” Part 1 has saved and can be edited later. 
  • Please note that the recommendation section is required and cannot be edited once submitted. If you need to make changes to your recommendation, please contact Blair Blanchette, VNRLI Program Manager, at brb6eb@virginia.edu.
  • You can preview the essay questions on this webpage (below) under Application Short Essay Questions
• Need help? You can refer to our Help Guide or email Blair Blanchette, VNRLI Program Manager, at brb6eb@virginia.edu. 
• Trouble Logging into the Portal? Refer to the Cooper Center Help Page.

Application Requirements

Applying to VNRLI requires completing an online application which includes:

• background/contact information
• short essay questions
• one professional reference

Application Deadlines

For the Class of 2027

Application Opens 

Spring 2026

Application Closes

June 5, 2026 @ 5:00pm

Notification of Acceptance

July 17, 2026

Payment Due 

September 11, 2026

Application Short Essay Questions

• Describe your current responsibilities. 
• What is the nature of your involvement (personal and/or professional) with natural resources or the environment?
• What do you feel is your greatest responsibility, skill, or achievement to date in your professional and/or personal life?
• What are your future career and/or community service goals?
• What do you hope to achieve from your experience in the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute?
• An important component of VNRLI is the application of skills learned in the sessions. Describe how you hope to apply these skills within your organization, groups, community, home, etc. 
• Is there anything you feel is important for us to know about you that hasn't been captured by these questions?
   

Other Application Information

The following information will be requested in the VNRLI application:

• Current and past employment information
• Education degrees and relevant non-degree training programs
• Contact information