The Midwest Climate Summit is a truly collaborative event! The Planning Committee includes the Steering Committee plus seven sub-committees: one committee focused on each of the Summit’s four topic areas, a student committee, and administrative committees focused on resources and marketing.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee includes individuals from 20 organizations representing higher education, local government, non-profits, and the private sector across the Midwest. Steering Committee members include university faculty and staff, students, and sustainability professionals. A small number of steering committee members also serve on the executive committee.
Barbara Buffaloe
Urban Sustainability Directors Network ; City of Columbia
- Email: Barbara.Buffaloe@como.gov
John Warford
Historically Black College and University Climate Change Consortium
- Email: john.warford@famu.edu
Sub-Committees
The seven sub-committees focus on Science & Research, Teaching & Education, Climate Action, Outreach & Engagement, Student Engagement, Resources, and Marketing & Outreach. Meet the members of the sub-committees below.
Sub-Committee Chairs
Sub-Committee Members
- Jennine Arrighi – City of St. Louis
- Bill Gutowski – Iowa State University
- Jennifer Haverkamp – University of Minnesota
- Chad Henry – Washington University in St. Louis
- Celine Jennings – University of Minnesota
- Olivia Ledee – Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
- Madeline Magee – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Martha McGee – Vanderbilt University
Sub-Committee Chairs
Sub-Committee Members
- Holly Benz – Northwestern University
- Michael Bisesi – Ohio State University
- Claire Borgerding – Ohio State University
- Jeff Henderson – Northwestern University
- Cathy Jordan – University of Minnesota
- Cathy Middlecamp – University of Wisconsin Madison
- Lilliana Sydorenko – Northwestern University
- John Warford – Historically Black College and University Climate Change Consortium
Sub-Committee Chairs
Sub-Committee Members
- Barbara Buffaloe – Urban Sustainability Directors Network
- Kevin Ellett – Indiana University
- Amy Fredregill – Minnesota Sustainable Growth Coalition | Environmental Initiative
- Demetria Giannisis – Northwestern University
- Kevin Jacobson – University of Wisconsin
- Melissa Kenney – University of Minnesota
- Greg Kozak – Northwestern University
- Missy Nergard – University of Wisconsin
- Claire Santoro – Washington University in St. Louis
- Russ Stark – Saint Paul College
- James Tenner – Iowa State University
- Phil Valko – Washington University in St. Louis
- Catherine Werner – City of St. Louis
Sub-Committee Chairs
Sub-Committee Members
- Dan Barry – American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Abigail Foerstner – Northwestern University
- Brenda Gonzales – University of Wisconsin Madison
- Maddie Miller – University of Minnesota
- Todd Reubold – University of Minnesota
- Claire Santoro – Washington University in St. Louis
- Cary Shepard – Northwestern University
- Sara Smith – College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute
- Natalie Tinsen – University of Wisconsin
- Phil Valko – Washington University in St. Louis
Sub-Committee Chair
Student Representatives
- Lauren Lankenau – Vanderbilt Law School
- Natalie Tinsen – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Kevin Jacobson – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Maddie Miller – University of Minnesota
- Celine Jennings – University of Minnesota
- Jennifer Seth – Iowa State University
- Aline Milach Teixeira – Iowa State University
- Nathan Erickson – Iowa State University
- Claire Borgerding – Ohio State University
- TJ Kirby – Ohio State University
- Elizabeth Lima – Ohio State University
- Lauren Simitz – Northwestern University
- Liliana Sydorenko – Northwestern University
- Lucy London – Northwestern University
- Izzy Diagostino – Indiana University
- Martha McGee – Vanderbilt University
Sub-Committee Chair
Sub-Committee Members
- Nathan Erickson – Iowa State University
- Chad Henry – Washington University in St. Louis
- TJ Kirby – Ohio State University
- Anjali Sridharan – University of Wisconsin Madison
Sub-Committee Chair
Sub-Committee Members
- Nathan Jandl – University of Wisconsin Madison
- Gina Langen – Ohio State University
- Clara Steyer – Washington University in St. Louis
- Aline Teixeira – Iowa State University