Cordelia Van der Veer was one of 20 rising seniors across the country to be awarded the Beinecke Scholarship. The Beinecke Scholarship program seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue opportunities available to them and to be courageous in the selection of their graduate course of study. To meet its mission, the scholarship provides up to $35,000 toward graduate funding for students intending to pursue a terminal degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Upon learning that she’d been selected for the scholarship, Van der Veer expressed her enthusiasm. She said, “Being awarded the Beinecke Scholarship is a surprising and outstanding honor. I am inspired to continue my research and keep working towards my goal of understanding how American political institutions respond to the threats from climate change and other environmental challenges.” She went on to express gratitude for the financial support in these uncertain times stating, “Given the current complex landscape of higher education and challenges associated with funding graduate school, knowing I already have funding towards a future PhD program is a big relief.”
An honors student, Stamps Eminence Scholar, and Buckeye Leadership Fellow, Van der Veer is majoring in Public Policy Analysis and Political Science, and she has a minor in History. She has been engaged in research since high school when she contributed to projects related to Environmental Judicial Politics, which she continues today. Van der Veer has also worked as a development intern at the Bipartisan Policy Center in D.C. where she worked on the center’s Climate and Trade Summit.
On campus, Van der Veer serves as an Environmental History Fellow for Ohio State's Environmental History Initiative. Through grant writing and other administrative duties, she supports this multidisciplinary center’s research related to historic and contemporary human interactions with the environment, health, disease, technology, and science. Van der Veer also leads the student organization, EcoSpace Environmental Consulting, which provides environmental compliance consulting services to businesses and non-profits in the greater Columbus area. In 2023, Van der Veer represented the university at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai.
In each of her endeavors, Van der Veer has immersed herself in projects related to the environment, public policy, and the inner workings of political institutions. Based upon her dedicated leadership, commitment to public service, and passion for environmental stewardship, Van der Veer was also awarded the nationally competitive Udall Scholarship in Spring 2025.
When asked about the honor of receiving both the Beinecke and Udall Scholarships, Van der Veer noted, “The values of environmental justice and academic inquiry exemplified by the Udall and Beinecke Scholarships is a close reflection of my personal values. It feels validating to receive support to continue pursuing my studies in environmental politics.”
She went on to say, “I didn't expect to receive both scholarships. My success reflects the great mentorship I have had from my recommenders, including Dr. Chris Rea, Dr. Bart Elmore, Dr. Nick Breyfogle, and Dr. Vlad Kogan. They have supported me and pushed me to ask hard questions about politics and the environment. I also could not have done it without the Fellowship Office, who encouraged me to submit my applications even when I wasn't sure I was qualified.”
Reflecting on her work with Van der Veer, Undergraduate Fellowship Office program manager, Janet Schroeder stated, “It was a pleasure to work with Cordelia on her Beinecke Scholarship application. I first met her during her freshman year at Ohio State, and I have witnessed the hard work and dedication she has invested in the development of her research, service, and leadership profile over the years.” Schroeder continued, “Receiving the Beinecke and Udall Scholarships is a recognition of Cordelia’s previous efforts and encouragement for her continued contributions to environmental policy research.”
In the future, Van der Veer plans to pursue a PhD in political science, focusing on American politics and quantitative methodology, so she can explore a wide range of topics including how American political institutions shape environmental policy.