Vishal Kennedy Is Mapping the Future

The NWF EcoLeaders Fellow uses data to model conservation and climate outlooks

By Delaney McPherson
Next Generation
Jun 24, 2026

AT AGE 26, VISHAL KENNEDY, a Ph.D. candidate in conservation and environmental policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has already racked up an impressive array of achievements: two previous degrees, six internships and multiple awards.

Still, to Kennedy, his greatest triumphs are the relationships he’s built, from the middle school teacher in his hometown of Kumbakonam, India, who encouraged his interest in science, to the mentor in his master’s program who advised him on pursuing a doctorate.

“From the first time I was exposed to ecology, sustainability and conservation, I genuinely fell in love with them,” he says. “A big part of that was the people who taught the courses and made the materials come alive.”

As a National Wildlife Federation EcoLeaders^® fellow in 2025, Kennedy conducted research on the program’s website and used that data to improve engagement. More recently, Kennedy won the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s 2026 Tom Gilbert Graduate Award for students working in environmental policy.

Kennedy’s current research at the school’s Armsworth Lab applies data mapping to conservation questions—modeling, for example, how climate change might affect the ranges of wildlife species and analyzing the U.S. network of protected environmental areas to determine which ecosystems are underrepresented. With plans to graduate in spring 2027, he hopes his work can be used to inform decisions on future conservation efforts.

“How do I make people ... appreciate that science isn’t just enough?” he asks. “It has to be followed up with action.”