Duke Junior is Recipient of Udall Scholarship

Aaron Siegle aims to spend a career in pursuit of a sustainable energy system

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Aaron Siegle

Duke junior Aaron Siegle has been named a recipient of the Udall Scholarship, which recognizes students who plan a career in environmental affairs, Native American tribal public policy, or Native American health care.

Siegle, from Silver Spring, Md., is one of 55 scholars chosen from more than 400 nationwide. Majoring in environmental sciences and policy, he aims to spend his career in pursuit of a truly sustainable energy system, including building the necessary technology, coalitions of support, and policy base to realize a net zero future.

A Rachel Carson Scholar and member of the Climate Commitment Advisory Council, Siegle has developed a dual focus on research and policy advocacy during his time at Duke. His research has touched on coastal zone management and marsh migration in the mid-Atlantic and he co-authored an extensive nature-based solutions roadmap for ecosystem restoration for the Department of the Interior.

Siegle is committed to solving the most pressing environmental issues facing our evolving infrastructure, from transportation to data center sustainability and grid decarbonization. To that end, he has worked with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Third Derivative, Silicon Ranch and the Maryland Environmental Trust.

“I would like to thank professors Brian Murray, Tom Cinq-Mars, Chris Wedding, Tibor Vegh, Matthew Shutzer, Tim Johnson and Tom Schultz” said Siegle, “for supporting my research and academic pursuits throughout my time at Duke.”

The Udall Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris Udall and Stewart Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Each scholarship provides up to $7,000 during the scholar’s junior and/or senior year.

Udall applications are reviewed at the national level by a 20-member independent review committee that identifies both the winning applications and 55 honorable mentions, which included Duke students Dylan Cawley, Lizzy Glazer, and Amber White in 2025.

To receive support for applying for opportunities like the Udall Scholarship, prospective applicants should contact the Nationally Competitive Scholarships advisors in the Office of University Scholars and Fellows. For more information about the Udall Scholarship, visit www.udall.gov.