Tatum Watkins Named Udall Scholar
Tatum Watkins ’27 was selected as a Udall Scholar by the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The Udall Foundation awards scholarships and special honors to college sophomores and juniors for study in fields related to the environment and for Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy.
Tatum Watkins, a political science major with concentrations in policy studies & science, medicine, and society from Clarinda, Iowa, plans for a career working at the intersection of environmental health, agriculture, and environmental justice. “I have always been interested in understanding how environmental factors, especially those related to agriculture, affect the health of people in my community. Growing up on a regenerative farm in rural Iowa, I have been interested in environmental justice work since before I knew exactly what environmental justice was, so when I found my interest in public health my second year of college, I felt that I finally bridged my interests,” said Watkins.
The Udall Scholarship provides a $7,500 scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year and a life-long network of over 2,000 Udall Scholars.
“Post grad, I will pursue a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) and Juris Doctorate (JD), and eventually, I want to work in environmental health litigation, seeking a safer environment for all, and justice for people already impacted by environmental injustices,” shares Watkins. "Although an MPH/JD is a unique combination of graduate degrees, I believe that law is only a successful path to social change if combined with movement building and working outside the courts. Similarly, I believe that to understand the law surrounding human health, I must also understand the science.”
This summer, Watkins will hold an internship with the Iowa Environmental Council where she will work on the second phase of a project investigating cancer and environemtal risk factors in Iowa, and assist the energy policy team.
As she returns to campus in fall 2026, Watkins will begin her fourth year at Grinnell College while beginning her Master’s of Public Health (MPH) in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa, a cooperative degree program. Following Grinnell College graduation, Watkins will finish the MPH directly at the University of Iowa with plans to work in the public health sector before starting law school.
In summer 2025, Watkins was the Iowa Cancer Project Outreach and Research Intern at the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement based in Des Moines, IA. She shared, “I saw firsthand the impacts of environmental contamination on the health and well-being of Iowans.” Conducting research and organizing state-wide listening sessions supported dialogue on the potential causes of Iowa’s high cancer rate. The depth of the conversations and care by the people showed her the value of rural public service leadership in and out of rural areas.
On campus, Watkins has served as vice-president and president of Campus Democrats, captain of Mock Trial Team, co-leader of Middle School Art Club, and member of the Student Environmental Committee. In her free time she also enjoys ultimate frisbee and fiber arts.
In Iowa communities, Watkins serves as vice chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Rural Caucus, a board member for Poweshiek Community Action to Restore Environmental Stewardship (CARES), and member of the Nishnabotna Water Defenders in Red Oak, IA. Previous experiences include intervenor for Food and Water Watch in Cedar Rapids, IA, precinct election official in the Office of the Page County Auditor in Clarinda, IA, leadership with the Page County Democrats, and delegate at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL.
“Tatum possesses the interest in environmental issues and skillset to tackle tough questions that gives me hope for the future of environmental protection in Iowa,” said Andreas Jozwiak, assistant professor of political science, Grinnell College. “I find it impressive that she has taken the time to seek out experiences that allow her, in the tradition of the best liberal arts students, to examine this issue from a variety of angles.”
“She has a keen ability to foster conversation, to bring people together on issues they all care about yet may have differences of opinion on to collectively identify the underlying problems and mitigating solutions,” added Ann Landstrom, assistant dean and director of global fellowships and awards, Grinnell College. “Tatum’s public service strengths are formative across the state, and we can envision her career in public health and environmental law, and a future in public office.”
Watkins is a Grinnell College Founder’s Scholar and Dean’s List Recipient. She has been recognized as a 2026 Truman Scholar and a 2026 Izaak Walton League of Iowa Scholarship Awardee. Watkins is the fifth Udall Scholar in Grinnell's History. The Udall Foundation is currently awarding 65 Udall Scholarships per year, having in past years awarded both Scholarships and Honorable Mentions.
Brooke Novinger, biology and studio art double major, was another nominee of Grinnell College. Novinger, class of 2027 from Columbia, MO, is preparing for a career in fisheries science to conduct research and support fisheries and aquatic conservation. At Grinnell College and through summer research, she is acquiring foundational ecological knowledge and strengthening her communication skills for her career.
The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of the Udall brothers, whose careers had a significant impact on the stewardship of public lands and natural resources and American Indian and Alaska Native self-governance and health care. It is awarded for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to the environment, health care, and tribal public policy. The newly selected undergraduate students join a Udall Alumni Network of change-makers, working in Indian country and environmental fields, sharing innovative ideas, professional advice, and job/internship opportunities.
For more information about applying for the Udall Scholarship contact Ann Landstrom, fellowships and awards advisor, at email landstrom@grinnell.edu, and also visit the Udall Foundation website.