India Summer Fellow, 2026
Carter Herron is a third-year from Morgantown, West Virginia. He is double majoring in Environment, Geography, and Urbanization (CEGU) and Public Policy Studies and minoring in GIS. He is interested in using geography and spatial tools to address environmental policy issues, particularly inspired by the environmental degradation in his home state. At UChicago, he serves as the Policy Director of UChicago Democrats, where he manages groups of students advocating for local progressive policies, and the Tobler Program Director for the UChicago Geographic Studies Club, leading quarterly humanitarian mapathons. He is also heavily involved in the Institute of Politics and is a member of the quiz bowl team, Transit Enthusiasts, and Environmental Research Group. He has previously done GIS and policy work in the Senate and for the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. When not studying, he enjoys running on the Lakefront Trail and exploring Chicago’s many neighborhoods.
“The India Summer Fellows program was an incredible opportunity to witness climate action firsthand. I especially appreciated the many field visits, showcasing how climate policies work (or sometimes do not work) when developed and implemented by non-profits, businesses, and government institutions. Being on the ground in Ahmedabad and Delhi was particularly important, as we could experience the heat, congestion, air pollution, threats of flooding, and mass transit difficulties that organizations are hoping to solve. As a result of the program, I have a better sense of how we as students can contribute to climate solutions now and in future careers.”