SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Development and Sustainability) was founded in 1996 as a collaborative effort aimed at increasing the number of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in the field of ecology. It was originally established as a partnership between the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The co-founders were Dr. Alan Berkowitz (the ESA VP of Education and Human Resources) and Dan Durrett (UNCF) and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provided the initial funding for the program. The mission of SEEDS is to “diversify and advance the profession of ecology by promoting opportunities that stimulate and nurture the interest of underrepresented students.” This session will include SEEDS alumni from various years of the program. They will share their stories on how the SEEDS program has impacted their journey to their current career and personal accomplishments.