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

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

Photo portrait of Krisy Drutman.

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