EcoVisions: Finding Your Place in Environmentalism
November 14–16, 2024
A Signature Program by The Preserve at Vassar, The Environmental Cooperative, The Office of Sustainability, and the Political Science Department.
EcoVisions is a three-day series of events aiming to provide participants with opportunities to see how environmental action can take shape in all aspects of life. Each day is distinct in its topic, with day one focusing on green infrastructure and technology; day two on land management and conservation; and day three on environmental advocacy, policy, and engagement. Through keynotes, panel discussions, presentations, tours, and showcases, participants will be able to see firsthand how environmental action can be incorporated into their life. Upon the conclusion of EcoVisions, participants will have a better understanding of how to engage meaningfully with the environment from their career to their home heating to their yard and beyond.
Program Schedule
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Building Decarbonization for a Just Energy Transition
The day will begin with a keynote speech focused on equity and justice considerations when pursuing building decarbonization and community-wide energy transitions. Following the keynote, a panel of experts will discuss how we can make progress in achieving building decarbonization. The conversation will cover both building-level and community-wide strategies, and both new construction and retrofits/renovations. The audience will include nonprofit, business, and government professionals from the Mid-Hudson region, as well as Vassar students, alums, and faculty/staff.
Morning
Refreshments available
9:30 a.m.
Introduction to the day by Ken Foster, Director of Sustainability, Vassar
10:00 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Keynote Presentation by Jasmine Graham, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, on justice and equity in building decarbonization.
10:15 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Panel Discussion moderated by Ken Foster, Director of Sustainability, Vassar
11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Evan Carberry ‘14, Senior Account Executive, Kelvin
- Bryan Corrigan, Campus Architect, Vassar
- Mark Crosskey, Commercial Energy Manager, Sustainable Westchester
- Jasmine Graham, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition
- Marc Tsurumaki, Principal, LTL Architects
- Julie Noble, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Kingston
Afternoon
Catered lunch
12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Tour of the Heartwood at Vassar and Institute for Liberal Arts building highlighting green infrastructure. Led by Maryann Pilon, Director of Project Management at Vassar.
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Presenters
Evan Carberry ’14
Senior Account Executive, Kelvin
Evan Carberry he plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainable technologies for multifamily buildings in urban settings. With extensive experience in the sustainability sector, Evan has previously contributed to significant sustainability initiatives in the real estate industry while at Bright Power, Inc., and Steven Winter Associates. After Vassar, he earned his MSc in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship from the University of Nottingham. Evan is passionate about driving accessible innovation that reduces carbon footprints and enhances energy efficiency.
Bryan Corrigan
Campus Architect, Vassar
Bryan Corrigan, a licensed architect and LEED Accredited Professional began his career and continued for 15 years in the consulting world working for a number of small to mid-sized architectural and environmental engineering teams designing projects that include high end residential, historic restoration, sound sensitive technical spaces and various industrial building typologies. Early in 2006, Bryan left the consulting field and started his journey at Vassar. Bryan began work as a project manager within the Capital Projects team in Facilities Operations. Bryan quickly became the architectural advisor within the small Capital Projects team. Bryan is a member of Vassar’s Master Planning Committee, has worked closely with our Sustainably Director and interested faculty to create Vassar’s first set of “Green Building Standards” and has been guiding our recent push to assess, plan and execute our building envelope restoration and improvement program. Bryan was promoted to the role of Vassar’s Campus Architect early in 2023. Bryan’s project work at Vassar has included the full gut reno of Davison House, the repurposing of the Old Observatory into the home for our Education Dept., rework of both New England and Sanders Physics as part of our larger science project, the historic restoration of the façade at Main Building, the restoration of the barn at the Preserve to create a home for Environmental Cooperative, the early concept designs and management of the Bartlett Center for Admission and Career Education as well as many others around campus.
Mark Crosskey
Commercial Energy Manager, Sustainable Westchester
Mark Crosskey joined Sustainable Westchester in 2024 as a member of the Commercial Decarbonization team. Mark is a well-rounded engineer and environmentalist who is passionate about clean energy, heat pumps, and thermal energy networks. Previously, Mark spent six years at Indian Point nuclear power plant as the welding and repair/replacement engineer prior to its closure in 2021. He holds a B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering and an M.S. degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Mark’s research focused on Generation IV advanced reactor designs.
Ken Foster
Director of Sustainability, Vassar
Ken leads and coordinates Vassar’s efforts to decarbonize campus operations and implement environmentally-friendly practices, while providing active support for sustainability-focused education and skills development. Ken came to Vassar in 2024 after over two decades working in Minnesota and British Columbia. He spent seventeen years as Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Concordia College, where he also served as Chair of the President’s Sustainability Council and, for three years, as Director of Community Engagement. During that time, Ken served as a Public Member, appointed by Governor Walz, of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and spearheaded the Moorhead Community Resilience Project. He also has deep experience in China and Taiwan. Ken serves on the Board of Directors of the national organization Wild Ones, which promotes native plants and natural landscaping.
Jasmine Graham
Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition
Jasmine Graham (she/they) is a passionate advocate for a healthy, sustainable, and just world. She is currently the Executive Director at Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, where she is advancing an equitable, local renewable energy transition in the Hudson Valley of New York. Prior to that, she served as the Senior Equity and Affordability Advisor at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, the Energy Justice Policy Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Program Manager for New York’s first and largest Community Choice Aggregation at Sustainable Westchester. Jasmine is also appointed to New York City’s Climate Mobilization Advisory Board and Sustainability Advisory Board, where she provides recommendations to the City on their building decarbonization laws and climate plans.
Maryann Pilon
Director of Project Management at Vassar
Julie Noble
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Kingston
Julie Noble manages the City’s environmental projects, initiatives and programming, including energy, land use, climate adaptation, transportation, recycling and environmental education and serves as the Climate Smart Community Coordinator and Conservation Advisory Council liaison as well as the Vice President of the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions. A graduate of Binghamton University, Julie is also appointed to the SUNY New Paltz College Council. Julie and her husband Steve and their son Matthew happily reside in Kingston, NY.
Marc Tsurumaki
Principal, LTL Architects
Marc Tsurumaki is a Principal of LTL Architects, an NYC based practice that pursues architecture at the intersection of spatial invention, material innovation, and collective experience. With over 27 years of practice in projects ranging from ground-up buildings to dynamic interiors and speculative research, LTL Architects has refocused its practice on the role of embodied carbon and the architectural potentials of plant and earth-based materials and reuse. Their recent book Manual of Biogenic House Sections (2022), explicates the tectonic and spatial opportunities of bio and geogenic buildings. LTL Architects is committed to the capacity of architecture to shape and elevate communities and to contribute positively to the vitality of our shared environment. LTL Architects are the recipients of the NY State AIA firm of the year, a National Design Award, and have been inducted into the ID Hall of Fame. Their work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Carnegie Museum of Art. The principals are co-authors of five books: Manual of Biogenic House Sections (2022), Manual of Section (2016), Intensities (2013), Opportunistic Architecture (2008), and Situation Normal…Pamphlet Architecture #21 (1998).
Marc received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University. He is a Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Marc is also the current President of the Storefront for Art and Architecture.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Approaches to Conservation and Land Management
The day will begin with presentations from conservation and land management professionals discussing their own organization’s approach to conserving natural areas. Following individual presentations, professionals will convene in a panel discussion centered on approaches to conservation and land management at various scales. Later in the day, participants are invited to join on tours of the Preserve at Vassar, Vassar’s own ecological preserve, and get a glimpse into the work going on there. In the afternoon, a legal hackathon involving local high school students and college freshmen from Poughkeepsie, will demonstrate that legal thinking is accessible and can serve as a viable tool for hope amidst climate anxiety.
Morning
Morning refreshments available
9:30 a.m.
Introduction to the Day by Margaret Ronsheim, Professor of Biology
10:00 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Five 10 minute talks from panelists about respective land use/conservation approaches at their respective organizations
10:15 a.m.–11:05 a.m.
Panel Discussion: Professionals in environmental conservation; land use management. Moderated by Margaret Ronsheim, Professor of Biology
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Keri VanCamp, Director, Preserve at Vassar
- Pia Ruisi-Besares, Director of Science, Climate, and Stewardship at Scenic Hudson
- Helen Forgione, Senior Manager Conservation Science at Natural Areas Conservancy
- Laura Heady, Conservation and Land Use Program Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University
- Troy Weldy, President, Columbia Land Conservancy
Afternoon
Catered lunch
12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Guided Tours of Preserve at Vassar, the Environmental Cooperative, and Collins Field Station
1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Legal-based Hackathon, led by Arpitha Kodiveri, Professor of Political Science along with Climate Lawyers Ashley Nemeth and Camila Bustos (at Institute, invite-only for local high school students)
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Snacks and refreshments available
Presenters
Camila Bustos
Climate Lawyer and Assistant Professor at Pace Law
Helen Forgione
Senior Manager Conservation Science at Natural Areas Conservancy
Laura Heady
Conservation and Land Use Program Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University
Arpitha Kodiveri
Professor of Political Science
Ashley Nemeth
Climate Lawyer at the Earth Rights Advocacy Clinic at NYU Law
Margaret Ronsheim
Professor of Biology
Pia Ruisi-Besares
Director of Science, Climate, and Stewardship at Scenic Hudson
Keri VanCamp
Director, Preserve at Vassar
Troy Weldy
President, Columbia Land Conservancy
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Environmental Engagement
The day will begin with a panel discussion of environmental lawyers and ecologists discussing legal and policy-based pathways to climate justice. The panel will touch on legal proceedings in climate and focus on environmental justice issues in the Global South. Following the panel, a student showcase of local college students presenting on various environmental topics. After lunch, there will be a keynote presentation from Kristy Drutman, Founder of Brown Girl Green and an Environmental Media Host & Activist. Kristy will discuss how to be meaningfully engaged with the environment regardless of your profession or hobbies, and how this engagement can be intentional activism.
Morning
Refreshments available
9:30 a.m.
Introduction to the Day by Jennifer Rubbo, Director of the Environmental Cooperative, and Arpitha Kodiveri, Assistant Professor of Political Science
10:00 a.m.–10:15 a.m.
Panel Discussion with Climate Lawyers Moderated by Arpitha Kodiveri, Assistant Professor of Political Science
10:15 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
- Ashley Nemeth, Climate Lawyer at the Earth Rights Advocacy Clinic at NYU Law
- Camila Bustos, Climate Lawyer and Assistant Professor at Pace Law
- YiYi Prue, Indigenous Lawyer and Climate Activist from Bangladesh
Student showcase of work from local college students
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Casual food throughout (lunch-based)
Afternoon
Keynote Presentation from Kristy Drutman, Founder, Brown Girl Green; Environmental Media Host & Activist
12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Kristy Drutman’s Bio
Closing remarks from Marianne Begemann, Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources
1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
Kristy Drutman
Founder, Brown Girl Green; Environmental Media Host & Activist
As an entrepreneur and climate communications expert, Kristy has educated hundreds of thousands of people across the globe about modern-day environmental issues through speeches and media content as well as facilitates workshops centered around environmental media and storytelling in cities across the United States.
She has been invited to the White House multiple times as an on-ground reporter, was featured in Teen Vogue, NY Times, Refinery 29 among many other publications, is a Grist 50 under 50 recipient and a Create and Cultivate Top 100 creator. Kristy is 1 of 16 members of the U.S. EPA National Environmental Youth Advisory Council, and she is also the Co-Founder of the Green Jobs Board, a climate tech start-up bridging the equity and inclusion gap within the green economy through conversations, resources, and pathways to bring more diverse talent into the environmental field.
Presenters
Marianne Begemann
Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources
Camila Bustos
Climate Lawyer and Assistant Professor at Pace Law
Arpitha Kodiveri
Professor of Political Science
Ashley Nemeth
Climate Lawyer at the Earth Rights Advocacy Clinic at NYU Law
YiYi Prue
Indigenous Lawyer and Climate Activist from Bangladesh
Jennifer Rubbo
Director of the Environmental Cooperative