The Midwest Climate Summit Planning Committee worked hard to bring together a phenomenal lineup of talented and inspirational speakers. Coming from various backgrounds, sectors, and identities, each of them brings a unique perspective to the table.


Kick-Off Session Speakers (Oct 2)
Robert Bullard

Robert Bullard

Keynote Speaker

Considered by many the father of environmental justice, Robert Bullard is the Keynote Speaker for the Summit Kickoff Session on October 2. He will deliver his presentation at 10:10a Central Time.

Chris  Caldwell

Chris Caldwell

Science & Research Presentation

President of College of Menominee Nation and Director of Sustainable Development Institute, Chris Caldwell will deliver the Science & Research Presentation of the Summit Kickoff Session on October 2, at 11:00am central time.

Katharine Wilkinson

Katharine Wilkinson

Teaching Presentation

Author, strategist, teacher, and editor-in-chief at Project Drawdown, Katharine Wilkinson will deliver the Teaching presentation of the Summit Kickoff Session on October 2, at 11:15am central time.

Heather  McTeer Toney

Heather McTeer Toney

Outreach and Engagement Presentation

National Field Director for Moms Clean Air Force, Heather McTeer Toney will deliver the Outreach and Engagement Presentation of the Summit Kickoff Session on October 2, at 11:30am central time.

Isra  Hirsi

Isra Hirsi

Climate Action Presentation

Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the US Youth Climate Strike, Isra Hirsi will deliver the Climate Action Presentation of the Summit Kickoff Session on October 2, at 11:45am central time.

Shara  Mohtadi

Shara Mohtadi

Moderator

Member of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ environment team, Shara Mohtadi will moderate the Summit Kick-Off Session on October 2, starting at 10am central time.

Session 2 Speakers (Oct 9)
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Heidi  Roop

Heidi Roop

Keynote Speaker

Climate scientist, educator, communicator, Heidi Roop is a Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10am central time.

Jessica  Hellmann

Jessica Hellmann

Keynote Speaker

Climate change ecologist and director of the Institute on the Environment, Jessica Hellmann is a Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10am central time.

Gabe  Filippelli

Gabe Filippelli

Keynote Moderator

Earth scientist, biogeochemist, and former ocean policy advisor, Gabe Filippelli will moderate the keynote of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10am central time.

Daniel  Vimont

Daniel Vimont

Keynote Speaker

Director of the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research, Daniel Vimont is a Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10am central time.

Timothy Carter

Timothy Carter

Moderator – Climate Action Workshop

President of Second Nature, a national non-profit with a mission to accelerate climate action in higher education, Tim Carter will moderate the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Brianna  Chandler

Brianna Chandler

Climate Action Workshop

Sophomore at WashU, Brianna Chandler will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Melvin  Carter

Melvin Carter

Climate Action Workshop

Mayor of  Saint Paul, Minnesota, Melvin Carter will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Ed  Ferguson

Ed Ferguson

Climate Action Workshop

Director of Sustainability North America at Anheuser-Busch, Edward Ferguson will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Stephen  Forrest

Stephen Forrest

Climate Action Workshop

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics, and Material Sciences and Engineering and Co-chair of U-M President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality, Dr. Stephen R. Forrest will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Meredith  Drosback

Meredith Drosback

Moderator – Outreach & Engagement Workshop

Associate Director for Science at SciLine, a program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Meredith Drosback will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Michael  Hawthorne

Michael Hawthorne

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Investigative journalist who focuses on environment and public health issues for the Chicago Tribune, Michael Hawthorne will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Mary Annette  Pember

Mary Annette Pember

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

National correspondent for Indian Country Today, Mary Annette Pember will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Hannah  Ni'Shuilleabhain

Hannah Ni’Shuilleabhain

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Student at Northwestern University studying journalism, Hannah Ni’Shuilleabhain will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

John  Chase

John Chase

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Director of investigations at the Better Government Association, John Chase will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Stephen  Vavrus

Stephen Vavrus

Science and Research Workshop

Senior Scientist in the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Stephen Vavrus will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Michelle Garvey

Michelle Garvey

Teaching and Education Workshop

An interdisciplinary scholar-activist, Michelle Garvey will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Mike  Keen

Mike Keen

Teaching and Education Workshop

Experienced educator and sustainability consultant, Mike Keen will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Sam Grant

Sam Grant

Teaching and Education Workshop

Executive Director of environmental organization MN350, Sam Grant will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 2 on October 9, at 10:45am central time.

Session 3 Speakers (Oct 23)
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Carla  Frisch

Carla Frisch

US Department of Energy (DOE)
Acting Executive Director and Principal Deputy Director, Office of Policy

Delmar  Gillus

Delmar Gillus

Keynote Speaker

Chief Operating Officer of Elevate Energy, Delmar Gillus is a Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10am central time.

Neil Hawkins

Neil Hawkins

Keynote Speaker

Sustainable business thought leader and Erb Foundation President, Dr. Neil C. Hawkins is a Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10am central time.

Chris Wheat

Chris Wheat

Moderator – Climate Action Workshop

Director of Strategy and City Engagement for the American Cities Climate Challenge, Chris Wheat will moderate the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Amy  Fredregill

Amy Fredregill

Climate Action Workshop

Managing Director of the Sustainable Growth Coalition Environmental Initiative, Amy Fredregill will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of the Summit Session 3, on October 23.

Michael  Shelton

Michael Shelton

Climate Action Workshop

Associate Director of the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State University, Michael Shelton will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Joe  Parisi

Joe Parisi

Climate Action Workshop

Dane County Executive, Joe Parisi will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Lora  Iannotti

Lora Iannotti

Moderator – Science and Research Workshop

Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, Lora Iannotti will moderate the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Andy Jones

Andy Jones

Science and Research Workshop

Andy Jones will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Lisa  Reyes Mason

Lisa Reyes Mason

Science and Research Workshop

Associate Professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work and climate researcher, Lisa Reyes Mason will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Laalitha Surapaneni

Laalitha Surapaneni

Science and Research Workshop

Internal medicine physician with a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Laalitha Surapaneni will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

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Michael Wysession

Teaching and Education Workshop

Professor of geophysics in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, Michael Wysession will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Cathy  Manduca

Cathy Manduca

Teaching and Education Workshop

Director of the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College, Cathy Manduca will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Eduardo  Brondizio

Eduardo Brondizio

Teaching and Education Workshop

Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for the Analysis of Social-Ecological Landscapes at Indiana University Bloomington, Eduardo Brondizio will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Jason  Walsh

Jason Walsh

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Jason Walsh will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Sarah Moskowitz

Sarah Moskowitz

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Deputy Director at the Citizens Utility Board, Sarah Moskowitz will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Dylan  Jennings

Dylan Jennings

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Tribal Council Member at Bad River Tribe and Director of Public Information at the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Dylan Jennings will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 3 on October 23, at 10:45am central time.

Session 4 Speakers (Nov 6)
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Daniel  Wildcat

Daniel Wildcat

Keynote Speaker

Professor of Indigenous and American Indian Studies at Haskell Indian Nations University and Founder of the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group, Daniel Wildcat is the Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10am central time. Daniel Wildcat will also participate in the Teaching & Education Workshop of this session.

Santina  Contreras

Santina Contreras

Climate Action Workshop

Assistant Professor in the City and Regional Planning Section of the Knowlton School of Architecture at Ohio State University, Santina Contreras will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Barbara Charry

Barbara Charry

Climate Action Workshop

Strategy Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri’s floodplains and nature-based solutions team, Barbara Charry will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

John  Ikerd

John Ikerd

Climate Action Workshop

Author and professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri, John Ikerd will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Daniel Horton

Daniel Horton

Climate Action Workshop

Climate scientist, assistant professor, and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University, Daniel Horton will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Kimberly Wasserman

Kimberly Wasserman

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Executive Director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), Kimberly Wasserman will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Karen Kendrick-Hands

Karen Kendrick-Hands

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Co-founder and Director of Projects of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG), Karen Kendrick-Hands will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Barbara  Buffaloe

Barbara Buffaloe

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Sustainability Manager for the City of Columbia, Missouri, Barbara Buffaloe will will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Ray Wilson

Ray Wilson

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Chairperson of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light and President of Ray Wilson & Associates, Ray Wilson will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Daniel Poynter

Daniel Poynter

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Founder of Carbon Neutral Indiana, Daniel Poynter will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Marshall Johnson

Marshall Johnson

Science and Research Workshop

Vice President of the National Audobon Society, Marshall Johnson will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Bill Gutowski

Bill Gutowski

Science and Research Workshop

Professor of Meteorology in the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University, Bill Gutowski will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Jean  Eells

Jean Eells

Science and Research Workshop

President of E Resources Group, LLC, Jean Eells will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Mark Rasmussen

Mark Rasmussen

Science and Research Workshop

Director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, Mark Rasmussen will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Cassie Power

Cassie Power

Teaching and Education Workshop

Associate Director for Faculty and Academic Engagement at the WashU Gephardt Institute, Cassie Power will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Sarah Mincey

Sarah Mincey

Teaching and Education Workshop

Social-ecological systems scientist and faculty at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, Sarah Mincey will participate in the Teaching & Education Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Liliana Sydorenko

Liliana Sydorenko

Teaching and Education Workshop

Northwestern student and climate activist, Liliana Sydorenko will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Beth Martin

Beth Martin

Teaching and Education Workshop

Associate Director of the Washington University Climate Change Program, Beth Martin will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 4 on November 6, at 10:45am central time.

Session 5 Speakers (Nov 20)
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Justin  Gillis

Justin Gillis

Keynote Speaker

Former New York Times Climate Reporter, Justin Gillis is the Keynote Speaker for the Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 11:20am central time.

Frannie Levar

Frannie Levar

Climate Action Workshop

As Director of Environmental Sustainability at United Airlines, Frannie Levar will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Frank Oswald

Frank Oswald

Climate Action Workshop

City of St. Louis Building Commissioner, Frank Oswald will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Dane McFarlane

Dane McFarlane

Climate Action Workshop

Director of Research at the Great Plains Institute, Dane McFarlane will moderate the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Robert Blake

Robert Blake

Climate Action Workshop

Founder and CEO of Solar Bear, Robert Blake will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Kevin  Ellett

Kevin Ellett

Climate Action Workshop

Kevin Ellett will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Kevin  Self

Kevin Self

Climate Action Workshop

Senior Vice President Strategy, Business Development and Government Affairs at Schneider Electric, Kevin Self will participate in the Climate Action Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Shahzeen Attari

Shahzeen Attari

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Researcher in judgment and decision making related to climate change and resource use, Shahzeen Attari will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Michael  Vandenbergh

Michael Vandenbergh

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and Director of the Climate Change Research Network, Michael Vandenbergh will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Kaitlin Raimi

Kaitlin Raimi

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Researcher of psychological and social motivations of sustainable behaviors, Kaitlin Raimi will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Robyn Wilson

Robyn Wilson

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources Department at The Ohio State University and incoming President of the Society for Risk Analysis, Robyn Wilson will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Max  Boykoff

Max Boykoff

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Researcher in science-policy and society challenges, Max Boykoff will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Tom Dietz

Tom Dietz

Outreach and Engagement Workshop

Human ecologist and environmental sociologist, Tom Dietz will participate in the Outreach and Engagement Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Jennifer Haverkamp

Jennifer Haverkamp

Moderator – Science and Research Workshop

Graham Family Director of the University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute and professor, Jennifer Haverkamp will be the moderator for the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Sarah Mills

Sarah Mills

Science and Research Workshop

Senior project manager and lecturer at the University of Michigan, Sarah Mills will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Beth  Soholt

Beth Soholt

Science and Research Workshop

Executive Director at Clean Grid Alliance, Beth Soholt will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Maria Redmond

Maria Redmond

Science and Research Workshop

Director of the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, Maria Redmond will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Lucas Nelsen

Lucas Nelsen

Science and Research Workshop

Policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, Lucas Nelsen will participate in the Science and Research Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Jennifer  Mefford

Jennifer Mefford

Teaching and Education Workshop

Director of Business Development for the Southeastern Michigan Labor Management Cooperation Committee, Jennifer Mefford will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Ian  Adams

Ian Adams

Teaching and Education Workshop

Managing Director of Clean Energy Trust, Ian Adams will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.

Jeff  Henderson

Jeff Henderson

Moderator – Teaching and Education Workshop

Jeff Henderson will participate in the Teaching and Education Workshop of Summit Session 5 on November 20, at 10am central time.