Iantha Gantt-Wright Conservation Scholarship

Iantha Gantt-Wright was a pioneer in the conservation movement, bringing along with her the mosaic of Americans that had formerly been left out. Beginning in the 1980s when environmental leaders of color were infrequently seen, Iantha pushed for full inclusion and a seat at the table as the right of all communities. As a result, a robust community of Black and brown leaders exist today and are contributing to the decisions to preserve our wild lands and manage them in ways that most benefit people and the environment.  Many of these leaders credit Iantha with inspiring them and opening doors.


Iantha passed away February 15, 2020. To honor her legacy, friends and family have established the Iantha Gantt-Wright Family Scholarship for Conservation. The scholarship will help to prepare members of Iantha’s family to serve as Ambassadors from their communities to the great outdoors. The scholarship will be awarded to a family member that shows enthusiasm for following in Iantha’s footsteps. It will prepare them to begin right where they are. A group of advisors from among Iantha’s friends and colleagues will help prepare them for this work