CBEY 2050 Fellows

The CBEY 2050 Fellows are a multidisciplinary group of Yale graduate and professional students who come together in a monthly discussion circle to imagine a regenerative, resilient society and explore how business, government, and civil society can make that possible. As peers from across disciplines, we are navigating similar questions about how to understand the world and change it for the better. We gather to build community—and have meaningful and generative conversations that transform our work, our lives, and our world.

Convened by Patagonia Director of Philosophy and CBEY Resident Fellow Vincent Stanley, our meetings are peer-led, open-ended conversations about the future of society, the environment, and our own places at their intersection. Throughout the year, we discuss major issues that might confront our personal and professional lives. Discussion topics in the past have included: capitalism and degrowth, the future of agriculture, the urban/rural divide, corporate social responsibility, political polarization, place and strained planetary boundaries, and systemic racism.

Between monthly discussions, we deepen our community by hosting social gatherings. We believe that cultivating friendships built on trust and common understanding allows us to not only develop relationships with peers from across the graduate school community, but also enhance the dialogue, debate, and collaboration that shape our monthly discussions. Building trust and common understanding involves spending time together. During the academic year, we will financially and administratively support additional gatherings for students, including dinners, hikes, happy hours, and other social occasions. While not required, these gatherings are sincerely encouraged so as to cultivate community among the Fellows.

2025 - 2026 Discussion Gatherings
*Please check the schedule below to ensure you can make at least 6 of the 8 sessions.

September 19, 2025 (Please note the first session is an Orientation + Dinner from 3-6 pm)

October 3, 2025

November 14, 2025

December 5, 2025

January 23, 2026

February 27, 2026

March 27, 2026

April 24, 2026

How to Apply

The 2050 Fellows discussion group application is now CLOSED.

Please consider applying in August 2026.