Climate Action Pursuit 2021: Full Schedule

Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network would again like to thank everyone who participated in the year-long 2021 Climate Action Pursuit! Thank you to our planning design committee, sponsors, host institutions, organizational partners, Second Nature & IEN staff and interns, and all of you who "attended"!

If you are looking for the December session recordings, please note that session recordings from ALL milestone events will be made publicly available after the First of the Year. Stay tuned!

If you need to get a hold of us with any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: communications@secondnature.org.

We also would like to encourage you to sign-up on our "Be in the Know" email list for the virtual Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit taking place April 5-8, 2022! More information forthcoming about the Summit, including registration discounts available to Pursuit participants.

Still interested in logging into Sched to remind yourself of the sessions you have attended over the year? Click this link to log in.

- Your Second Nature & IEN Teams

10:00am EST

Office Hours

There will not be a recording of this session.

Open space for conversations with IEN and Second Nature staff.

Moderators

Hannah Bowen

Director of Events and Communications, Intentional Endowments Network

Michele Madia

Senior Director of Programs and Communications, Second Nature

Wednesday February 24, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Community, Student Leadership, Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) Faculty, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

11:00am EST

Climate Action Pursuit Welcome and Keynote Conversation: Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Welcome Recording

Click on the VIDEO STREAM button to watch the keynote address, and/or the WELCOME RECORDING button to watch the welcome portion.

Welcome from SN/IEN, orientation to the program and an engaging Keynote conversation with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Founder, Urban Ocean Lab & Co-Founder, The All We Can Save Project, on "All we can save - rooting our work in compassion, connection, creativity, and collaboration."

Some key takeaways from this session:

It’s important to create community, even in a virtual space. Some of the tools we’re using for that include: meaningful introductions including land acknowledgements; Slido polls/interactive questions; peer to peer conversations
The Pursuit will be a 4-milestone journey driven by what participants are looking for
Participants in the Pursuit are setting ambitious goals

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl

CFO, East Bay Community Foundation

Speakers

Ludovica Martella

Independent Researcher, Miami-Dade Office of Resilience

I am a professional researcher and advocate committed to promoting climate justice and gender equality through the engagement of multiple stakeholders. I am particularly interested in local-based approaches to minimize the effects of climate change in climate resilient communities... Read More →

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Founder, Urban Ocean Lab; Co-Founder, The All We Can Save Project

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for coastal cities, and is co-creator and co-host of the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet. With Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, she c... Read More →

Wednesday February 24, 2021 11:00am - 12:15pm EST
Zoom

Keynote

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Community, Student Leadership, Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) Faculty, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Pursue Neutrality - Carbon Neutrality: Maximum Ambition for Aligning Campus, Endowment, and Community Commitments

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Pursue Neutrality: Hear from University of California President Michael Drake, Chief Investment Officer Jagdeep Bachher, and other leaders about the next generation of carbon neutrality commitments

Some key takeaways from this session:

Covid has shown us that we must address climate and inequality in an integrated fashion - and that we must all get comfortable with change. Don’t wait for policy changes from government or Board committees, start by making change from within today
In order to make substantial change endowments must make intentional decisions to pursue sustainable investing; it is also a way to do well while doing good. Fossil free strategies have performed very well, and there has been a seachange amongst third party investment managers to embrace ESG investing in the last 5 years.
For funding campus climate action - reinvest savings from energy efficiency into further emissions reductions - but funding for large-scale infrastructure remains a challenge.

Moderators

Sandy Urie

Chairman Emeritus, Cambridge Associates

Speakers

Jagdeep Bachher

Chief Investment Officer & VP Investments, University of California System

Dr. Michael V. Drake

President, University of California System

David Phillips

Associate Vice President of Energy and Sustainability, University of California - Office of the President

Veerabhadran Ramanathan

University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Wednesday February 24, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Students

1:00pm EST

Pursue Policy - Policy Brief: What the New Administration Means for Higher Ed, Climate Action, and Sustainable Investing

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Pursue Policy: Hear from senior leaders what the new Administration means for Higher Ed, Climate Action, and Sustainable Investing

Speakers

Anne Kelly

Vice President of Government Relations, Ceres

Kevin Coyle

Counsel to the President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation

Wednesday February 24, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Pursue Student Leadership - A New Social Contract between Students and Higher Ed Institutions

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

In this session participants will hear from Elsa Mengistu, a strategist and visionary within the environmental movement, as she shares stories highlighting youth and college activism and empowerment, how and where to get engaged, and the need for intersectionality and multifaceted solutions in the sustainability and higher education sectors. Mengistu is the Cultural Development and Outreach Specialist and Founding Member at Generation Green, a student pursuing a degree in Political Science at Howard University, and the former Director of Operations at This is Zero Hour, a global grassroots climate organization intent on gaining support for the Youth Climate Movement.

Some key takeaways from this session:
In this session, through narrative storytelling based on her lived experience, Elsa Mengistu shares:

What led her to learn about white fragility and the importance of educators that care about their students and uplifting marginalized voices;
Through her organizing work, how she has worked to address systems of oppression including colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy, racism, and mass incarceration, and how layers of experience within these systems give individuals a unique perspective that should be highly valued and listened to;
As a student at Howard University, ways she has seen environmental racism play out inside and outside of the classroom, what higher education is doing right, and how to get engaged and make higher education institutions more intersectional, equitable, and inclusive.

Speakers

Elsa Mengistu

Cultural Development and Outreach Specialist, Student, Generation Green, Howard University

Wednesday February 24, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

2:30pm EST

Peer to Peer Conversation Block

There will not be a recording of this session.

Connect with peers for facilitated – but informal – discussions about what you’re facing in your work – the good, the bad, the complicated.

Speakers

Russ Gaskin

Managing Partner, CoCreative

Russ helps people who don't know each other and often don't even like each other solve complex problems together in the areas of shared prosperity and ecological sustainability--and builds the capacity of others to do the same.As the managing partner of CoCreative, a systems change... Read More →

Sharon Simms

Consultant, CoCreative

Sharon leverages her experience in curriculum development, program development, strategic planning, and training to advance meaningful collaboration among diverse stakeholders.Sharon has 20 years of experience working in human/social services and has worked with the nonprofit sector... Read More →

Wednesday February 24, 2021 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) Solutions Providers, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:30pm EST

Pursue Community - Partnering on EVs: How Cities and Universities are Electrifying Their Fleets to Help Achieve Common Climate Goals

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session will bring together representatives from the City of Orlando and neighboring University of Central Florida to discuss their coordination and advancements in electrifying fleet vehicles to help achieve their climate goals. The session will feature Mr. Chris Castro (Director of the City of Orlando's Office of Sustainability & Resilience) and Dr. Jim Fenton (Director of the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center) and include information on how other universities can become involved in the EV Purchasing Collaborative (a partnership between Climate Mayors, the Electrification Coalition, and Second Nature), electrify their fleets, and access resources through the Collaborative.

Some key takeaways from this session include:

There is so much room for growth in terms of vehicle efficiency as transportation currently wastes 79% of its energy
A lot of change will be occurring over the coming years as we not only transition our vehicles to run on electricity but integrating these electricity assets to our cities and systems at-large

Moderators

Sarah Reed

Program Manager, Electrification Coalition

Sarah Reed is an outreach and engagement organizer at the Electrification Coalition. She is responsible for guiding public and private fleets through the transition to electric vehicles and specifically supports the EC’s Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative... Read More →

Speakers

James Fenton

Director & Professor, University of Central Florida's FSEC Energy Research Center

Chris Castro

Director of Office of Sustainability & Resilience, City of Orlando

James Ritchotte

Executive Director, Climate Mayors

James Ritchotte is the Executive Director of Climate Mayors and has served in this role since 2018. James is responsible for strategic direction of the network, including member engagement and partner collaboration, as mayors seeks to shape, advocate for, and deliver on an ambitious... Read More →

Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:30pm EST

Pursue Knowledge - Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge with Digital Twins

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Kick off the “Knowledge” track on the first day of this Climate Action Pursuit milestone by sharing big ideas - how new tools are being applied in new ways to revolutionize and democratize the fields of smart city planning, campus energy retrofits, construction, and climate resilience.

Some key takeaways from this session:

One doesn’t need to spend millions of dollars to test out a new project or service or wait until a new building is completed to see how it will impact a campus; instead lower-cost simulations can be used (“digital twins”).
Part of the transition away from fossil fuels means using decentralized systems like microgrids, and a lot of complexity - which makes greater data processing, modeling, and real-time analysis necessary

Moderators

Beth Martin

Teaching Professor in Environmental Studies; Interim Director of Washington University Climate Change Program, Washington University in St. Louis

Speakers

Michael Jansen

Chairman & CEO, Cityzenith

John Reynolds

CEO, Agile Fractal Grid

Alain Steven

Founder & CEO, Energy One Solutions International

Eric Darrisaw

Director, Agile Fractal Grid

Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:30pm EST

Pursue Racial Justice - Higher Education and Racial Equity

Click on the VIDEO STREAM button to view the recording of this session.

Throughout American history, higher education has played a role in creating and reinforcing structural racism. Climate change disproportionately impacts communities of color, and is the result of the same unsustainable, extractive system that marginalizes and disempowers these communities. As institutions seek to shift their role to become actively anti-racist, how can we align climate action and all other institutional priorities with efforts to dismantle structural racism and lift up BIPOC communities? How can we ensure that climate solutions are led by and benefit these communities, and do not reinforce patterns of exploitation? What is the role of endowments in this work -- and what are the risks they face by not investing in racial equity? Leading thinker, author and entrepreneur, Nathalie Molina Niño will explore these questions with Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, CFO of the East Bay Community Foundation and Chair of Stanford’s Center for Comparative Studies on Race and Ethnicity.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Racial equity and climate change are not only “intersectional” but “fused” - they are inherently linked.
For higher ed to move the dial on racial justice, think about not just “racial equity” but “racial thriving”-- how people of color can thrive, have more access to ownership, to capital, to leadership positions.
Thinking about endowment investing and access to capital is key. Investment managers that are BIPOC owned and led, are more likely to inherently consider sustainability/ESG factors in their process.
Communities must control their own destinies - keep ownership at the front of thinking about racial justice - a lens for all decisions on hiring, investments, priorities, etc.

Speakers

Nathalie Molina Niño

Author, Investor, Entrepreneur, Connectivity Capital Partners, WOCstar Fund, FullCycle, and BlueIO

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl

CFO, East Bay Community Foundation

Wednesday February 24, 2021 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

5:00pm EST

End-of-Day Reflection

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Open space for recapping the day’s sessions, reflecting, and planning for the work ahead.

Some key takeaways from this session:

We need to use the events that occurred in Texas last week as a reminder and motivator for our work

Speakers

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Dianne Dillon-Ridgley

Board Member, Crane Institute of Sustainability

Alice DonnaSelva

Managing Director, Intentional Endowments Network

Wednesday February 24, 2021 5:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

9:00am EST

Office Hours: Meet IEN's Steering Committee

There will not be a recording of this session.

Open space for conversations with IEN Steering Committee Members.

Hear from IEN Steering Committee members on what drove them to serve on this leadership group for the Intentional Endowments Network, and ask questions about the Network's current activities and priorities.

This will be an interactive, informal opportunity for networking and peer-learning.

Moderators

Alice DonnaSelva

Managing Director, Intentional Endowments Network

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Thursday February 25, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

10:00am EST

Office Hours: Second Nature - Ask Me Anything

There will not be a recording of this session.

Open space for conversations with Second Nature leadership.

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Thursday February 25, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

11:00am EST

Community Investing through CDFIs

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

For an institutional investor with social equity objectives, discovering America’s network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) is like spotting the light switch after exploring a dark room with a small flashlight. Once you turn on the light, a world of possibilities opens before you – over 1,000 organizations dispersed throughout the country, ready to absorb and deploy capital to people and places that are often overlooked and underestimated by traditional investors.

CDFIs are private financial institutions that drive affordable capital to low-wealth communities across the United States. Many investors have been compelled to learn more about CDFIs and their long track record and ability to finance justice by investing in the potential of America’s communities.

Join a panel of experts who will be answering questions like: What is community investing and what is the role of CDFIs? Why may institutional investors like university endowments explore community investing? How may investment managers consider CDFIs in an Investment Policy Statement?

A few key takeaways from this conversation:

The inequities built into our system and addressing this wealth gap or chasm require all stakeholders including endowments to step into action.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are one of the best kept secrets in the impact space and there are a myriad of ways that an endowment may invest in a CDFI across asset classes with varying levels of risks based on the institution’s objectives & constraints.
CDFIs make sure that the deals are structured upfront to help borrowers succeed; one of the ways in which they do that is by providing technical assistance to borrowers which reduces the risk of the investment and helps with capital preservation. CDFIs also understand the local context, the players and the political landscape that surrounds the potential investment; with a 360 degree view, CDFIs can structure the investments appropriately to bring in various stakeholders at different levels to make the investment successful.
With place based investing, the large influx of capital sometimes leads to gentrification but the mission of CDFIs is to create inclusive growth and prevent displacement of people in the community.

Speakers

Andrea Longton

Senior Vice President, Financial Services, Opportunity Finance Network

Ben L. Bynum, MD

Portfolio Director of Program Related Investments, The Colorado Health Foundation

Catherine Berman

CEO & Co-Founder, CNote

George Ashton

Managing Director, Strategic Investments at LISC

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors

11:00am EST

Leveraging Technology: Bold Planning and Steps to the Resilient, Carbon Neutral Campus of the Future

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Keene State College (NH) has set aggressive sustainability goals and, like many higher education institutions, faces barriers to implementing them. We will learn about the creative vision and bold initial actions of this public liberal arts college and their plans toward achieving multi-faceted, short and long-term goals on the road to decarbonization. The approach will reveal key elements associated with partnership, technology, and stakeholder engagement, as well as alternative financing.

As a company Siemens is well-along their path to carbon neutrality. The Chief Sustainability Officer of Siemens will delve into this aligned vision that helps to create synergies and momentum. One example of this is the distributed energy microgrid at the Princeton (NJ) research campus. This project demonstrates the optimization of localized energy generation and storage, building load, and grid supplied electricity, as well as supporting corporate research.

Learn how these campuses are planning and implementing solutions and how their lessons may help your campus achieve its goals.

Speakers

Chris Davidson

Director of Hybrid Power Solutions, Siemens Smart Infrastructure

Chris Davidson is Director of Hybrid Power Solutions for Siemens Smart Infrastructure. His professional career spans more than two decades developing, managing, and engineering standard as well as customized integrated electrical solutions, such as power conversion equipment for power... Read More →

Martin Powell

Head of Sustainability, Siemens USA

Martin Powell is Chief Sustainability Officer for Siemens USA and oversees efforts at dozens of corporate campuses that will lead to the company’s achievement of global carbon neutrality by 2030. In his previous role as Global Head of the Urban Development Practice, Martin led the... Read More →

Diana Duffy

Coordinator of Energy and Utility Services, Keene State College

Diana’s work at Keene State College helps procure the power to energize the campus in a pipeline-free corner of New England. Prior to Keene State, Diana was on National Grid’s energy efficiency team managing a range of programs serving customers in four northeastern states. She... Read More →

Cary Gaunt

Director of Campus Sustainability, Keene State College

Dr. Cary Gaunt currently serves as the Director of Campus Sustainability at Keene State College (KSC), where she facilitates an accomplished team of colleagues and a cross-campus stakeholder group (the Sustainability Council) to lead, develop and implement initiatives that reinforce... Read More →

Sponsors

Siemens

Siemens Smart Infrastructure strives to create the ideal campus environment, built on smart infrastructure and leveraging digitalization. The right environment for learning can lead to great things. Students focus on learning and exploring their future. The institution adheres to... Read More →

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

11:00am EST

Maximizing Impact of Renewable Energy and Carbon Offsets

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session will share best practices and latest trends for carbon reduction tactics, focusing on renewable energy, carbon offsets, and biomethane. While many campuses are procuring renewable energy and/or carbon offsets, many do not know the details of how to ensure they are high-quality and having maximum impact. Concrete considerations and case studies will be shared to leave the audience with practical next steps to bring back to their campuses.

The clock is ticking to greatly reduce carbon emissions to avoid the worst of a climate catastrophe. These negative impacts will affect everyone, not just those who are emitting the most carbon, and will have a disproportionately large impact on the most vulnerable communities around the world. Everyone should be asking themselves what they can do to avoid this fate and how they can leverage the resources at their campus to go from being part of the problem to part of the solution. The first step to carbon reduction is energy efficiency. But once your campus is as efficient as possible (with a plan for continual improvements), what can be done next? This session will review the main tools schools can use to greatly reduce their carbon emissions, from procuring the traditional options of renewable energy and carbon offsets, to the more nascent option of renewable natural gas. To begin, key considerations will be reviewed when looking to utilize these different tools to ensure purchasers are having maximum impact. Starting with renewable energy procurement, considerations discussed will include fundamental REC accounting and claims as well as differing procurement strategies. For carbon offsets, topics will include how to ensure emission reductions are real and verified as well as co-benefits to consider. Finally, the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions will discuss why it is expanding its Green-e voluntary certification program to include Renewable Natural Gas, including the challenges and opportunities for this new resource in the voluntary market. This session will share real life examples from Swarthmore College, Chatham University, and the University at Buffalo sharing their experience utilizing these climate action tools.

Speakers

Michelle McGinty

Manager, Program Outreach, Green-e | Center for Resource Solutions

Michelle McGinty is the Program Outreach Manager at Center for Resource Solutions, a nonprofit with a mission to create market and policy solutions to advance sustainable energy. As Program Outreach Manger, Michelle works to get the word out about the program initiatives at CRS... Read More →

Mary Whitney

Director of University Sustainability, Chatham University

Mary Whitney is the Director of Sustainability at Chatham University, and an Assistant Professor of Practice in Sustainability for the Falk School of Sustainability and the Environment at Chatham University. For over 15 years she has overseen the institution’s many sustainability... Read More →

Elizabeth Drake

Climate Action Manager, Swarthmore College

Elizabeth Drake is the Climate Action Manager in the Office of Sustainability, where she leads climate protection activities across the institution in support of the College’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. This includes leading the College’s award-winning... Read More →

Ryan McPherson

Chief Sustainability Officer, University at Buffalo

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Knowledge, Neutrality

11:00am EST

Net Zero Across Asset Classes

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session will explore the concept of net-zero portfolio construction across asset classes. Panelists will provide perspectives on how public and private equity and fixed income strategies can be aligned to achieve net-zero goals. They will also explore the role of Scope 3 emissions and the impact of investing in climate solutions as part of a comprehensive net-zero portfolio strategy. The conversation will focus on solutions that can provide the risk-adjusted returns and capital protection endowments need, while also having a meaningful impact on the real economy and supporting an equitable transition to a low-carbon future.

Some key takeaways from this session:

The biggest hurdle is making the (public, or even internal) commitment to a Net Zero portfolio - there are options for investing already out there once you do make that commitment
Investors have to do strong analysis around the carbon footprint of investments just like any other investment factor - it may be a challenge, but it will get easier with better reporting/data availability… but you have to do it whether it’s easy or not.
Net Zero can sound like a negative thing, but it’s really about looking forward - is your portfolio ready for the future?

Moderators

Joy Williams

Senior Advisor for Climate Strategy, Education and Finance, Manifest Climate

Speakers

Temple Fennell

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Clean Energy Ventures

Amberjae Freeman

CEO, Etho Captial

Nathalie Wallace

Head of ESG Strategy & Development, Mirova US

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees

11:00am EST

Racial Equity Investing 101: No Justice, No Peace Without Prison Free Portfolios

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Because of the racist history of incarceration in the U.S., racial justice, and racial equity investing, are impossible without dismantling the prison industrial complex, one that systematically targets thousands of primarily poor Black and Indigenous communities for disenfranchisement while making billions for corporations and shareholders every year. Doing so will require going beyond private prisons, which hold less than 8% of all incarcerated people in the country. This session will offer an opportunity to learn some of that history and what it means for environmental justice and investors. You will hear directly from a lawyer and activist formerly with the Mecklenburg County Public Defenders' office, with first-hand experience inside the penal system due to the protests last summer, and learn how to begin taking action from pioneers in racial equity and prison free investing.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Slavery didn’t end with the 13th amendment - it just evolved, and we see slavery today in the operations of the prison industrial complex. In fact, the United States has nearly 25% of the world’s prison population despite making up under 5% of the global population. Mass incarceration not only impacts the individuals in prison but their families, communities, and our entire society - it’s hurting us all. Investing in a financially profitable prison industrial complex in the short term is never the answer when we can invest directly in people and their success.
Corporations often don’t want to know if they have prison labor in their supply chains so investors will need to educate themselves, in order to push portfolio companies to look into the use of prison labor and disclose that information.
All of us, including investors, are complicit in upholding oppressive systems and we need to understand how in order to start operating differently. But these systems were created - they're humanmade, not natural and so we absolutely can dismantle them. And since we have the power to do that, each of us can be part of the solution as much as, and even more so than, we are a part of the problem.

Moderators

Jochebed Bogunjoko

Founder & CEO, J Aduke Consulting

Speakers

Renee Morgan

Social Justice Strategist, Adasina Capital

Habekah Cannon

Managing Attorney, The Law Office of Habekah B. Cannon

Ivy Jack

Head of Equity Research, Northstar Asset Management

Patience Marime Ball

Founder & CEO, Women of the World Endowment

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees

11:00am EST

Staying Relevant: The Endowment as a Tool in the Toolkit

There will not be a recording of this session.

A commitment to a mission that is embraced by students, faculty, alumni and donors keeps a university relevant and resilient amidst the threats to higher education today. Learn how Middlebury College marshalled its investments as well as campus operations and academics in service of its mission to prepare its students for the world we are handing them. Doing so fulfills their endowment’s financial objectives and their fiduciary responsibility while slowing global warming and its devastating effects and inspiring all those in its sphere to become change agents together. Participants from across the university will benefit from the lessons shared.
****THIS SESSION WILL NOT BE RECORDED****

Some key takeaways from this session:

3 characteristics were key to Middlebury College's success in staying relevant in addressing the challenges of today across their college sectors

Collaboration. Middlebury developed a community plan that engaged diverse stakeholders from student activists to trustees, identifying common objectives among competing priorities.
Commitment.. leading incremental change over several years to accomplish long-term goals, implementing an expanded view of fiduciary duty to align with their educational mission.
Courage - the willingness to engage deeply in a challenging process, creating a seat at the table for all voices to be heard, and ultimately standing firm on their commitment to their students and to future generations.

Whether you’re a student, a college president, trustee or a CFO, there is much to learn from Middlebury’s journey and continued leadership on these important issues

Speakers

Keith Johnson

Chair, Reinhart's Institutional Investor Services

Jack Byrne

Dean of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, Middlebury College

Susan Gary

Professor Emerita, University of Oregon School of Law

Laurie Patton

President, Middlebury College

David Provost

Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, Middlebury College

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy

11:00am EST

Strategies to Reduce Commuter Emissions

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

In 2019 the transportation sector overtook power production as the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Signatories of the Climate Leadership Commitments have been required to track and draw down their commuting emissions but it continues to be a challenging output to track accurately and even more difficult to reduce. Despite these challenges, campuses continue to explore ways to track these emissions and offer access to alternative transportation options, and this session will highlight those efforts and opportunities.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Pandemic has highlighted a lot of positives in relation to commuting - less traffic, congestion, opportunity to update buildings and space utilization. Shouldn’t go back to BAU, try to balance the positives of telecommuting with in person operations
Pandemic has also highlighted the issues of equity and privilege. Telecommuting is a privilege. Essential workers still need to go to work. Urban public transit has survived, smaller metro areas public transit has suffered and been cut
Lots of opportunities linked to commuting - such as the expanding of broadband to rural areas to support telecommuting. Expensive to fund public transportation, this could offset that need.

Moderators

Stephen Muzzy

Senior Manager of Climate Programs, Second Nature

Speakers

Bradley Flamm

Director, Office of Sustainability, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Bradley Flamm is the Director of West Chester University’s Office of Sustainability where he works with the large community of students, faculty, staff, and neighbors active in WCU’s Sustainability Council. WCU has adopted an ambitious Climate Action Plan and includes sustainability... Read More →

Jennifer Andrews

Project Director, UNH Sustainability Institute

JC Porter

Assistant Director Commuter Services, ASU

Alli Roberts

Director, State Policy, Ceres

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy

11:00am EST

What Do Retirement Plan Sponsors Need to Know About Sustainability?

Attachments below from Federated Hermes and Gitterman Wealth Management
Gitterman Wealth On Climate Change Investing

Moderators

Jeff Gitterman

Co-Founding Partner, Gitterman Wealth Management

Speakers

Jim Roach

Senior Vice President, Retirement Strategies, Natixis Investment Managers

Mary Green

Vice President & Client Portfolio Manager ESG, Federated Hermes

Thursday February 25, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Avoiding Greenwashing: Identifying True Integration in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Investing

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Session Description:

By now almost everyone has heard of the benefits of integrating environmental and social considerations into how investment managers assess the viability of a company’s business model and the quality of its governance. But with the explosion of managers who are describing their strategy as an ESG strategy, how do we know which ones are taking advantage of a seeming trend and which ones have truly developed expertise in this area? How do we avoid greenwashing? Come hear from managers who will provide concrete examples of the way ESG is integrated into their investment decisions.

Some Key Takeaways from this session:

What are some of the elements that mark an active investment manager that is incorporating ESG into their investment strategy?

Demonstrate intentionality about investing in companies that will benefit from and contribute to sustainable development
have long investment time horizons - 7 or more years
consider the intersection of environmental, governance & social factors in their approach
engage in dialogue, and if necessary collective pressure with other investors, to change corporate behavior to reduce a company’s negative impact on society and to enhance the value of the company
adapt and enhance currently available ESG metrics into their analysis
ability to identify the issues with ESG data and limitations of knowledge and work to both resolve those issues and invest actively to resolve those problems

consider and engage companies on their impact on all stakeholders, not just shareholders

Moderators

Madeline Clark

Associate Investment Director, Cambridge Associates

Speakers

Natasha Landell-Mills

Partner & Head of Stewardship, Sarasin Asset Management

Kevin Walkush

Portfolio Manager, Jensen Investment Management

Lorna Logan

Analyst, Sustainable Funds Group at Stewart Investors

Anne Matusewicz

Responsible Investment Strategist, Eaton Vance

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy, Neutrality, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Endowment Managment 101

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Ever wonder how the endowment works? Or what an endowment even is? Join this session for a quick introduction to endowment management - who is making decisions about how the endowment is invested, what factors they’re considering, and why it’s relevant to social equity and climate justice. We’ll have a brief presentation and then be open for any and all questions about endowments.

Speakers

Meredith Lorenz Heimburger

Principal, Global Endowment Management

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy
Audience (Scroll to see all) Solutions Providers, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Solutions Center and Accelerating Climate Action Planning

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session will review some of the many solutions that are being applied on campuses to reduce climate impacts. The Solutions Center was created to better inform senior campus decision makers about the climate solution options that they could or should be considering based on goals such as economics, publicity impact, feasibility, timeline for implementation, ease of maintenance, and GHG emission reductions.
The discussion will also address the downloadable tool for ranking and prioritizing your climate action projects based on these criteria. The Solutions Center is covered by a Creative Commons license, making the infographics and other information readily available for reuse. This was done to assist campus energy and sustainability professionals in communicating complex climate solutions to campus leadership and decision makers.
The Pursuit Panel will also feature a dialogue among campus and industry climate action implementers who are building a peer network to learn from one another, share leadership, and form collaborative solutions on the road to zero.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Campuses of all types have set aggressive sustainability goals and face barriers to implementing them. In this session, we discussed how a public liberal arts college set their vision and took action to achieve multi-faceted goals. The discussion also addressed technologies, stakeholder engagement, and financing.
Two campus case studies were presented: Keene State College in NH and a corporate research campus in NJ that is owned and operated by Siemens. The Siemens campus has a distributed energy microgrid to optimize onsite energy generation and storage, supplemented by grid supplied electricity.

Speakers

Eric Howard

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Second Nature

I've been with Second Nature for 2+ years, assisting and directing our relationships with an array of entities that provide climate-related services to campuses.

Dave Karlsgodt

Director, Brailsford & Dunleavy

Dave Karlsgodt is a director in Brailsford & Dunlavey’s Management Advisory Services practice group, spearheading the development of interactive tool sets and management of data that provide clients the basis for successful outcomes. Dave is also adept at explaining complex topics... Read More →

Meghan Chapple

Director of the Office of Sustainability, George Washington University

Meghan Chapple serves as the Director of George Washington University's Office of Sustainability and is the Senior Advisor on University Sustainability Initiatives. She has led GW through its comprehensive sustainability strategy process, and has established the university’s reputation... Read More →

Kate Nelson

Chief Sustainability Officer, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

In 2008 the Office of Sustainability at UW-Milwaukee was established as one of the first in theUW System, and has been under Kate’s direction since. She is responsible for planning &managing a variety of sustainability initiatives, including, but not limited to; energy conservationstrategies... Read More →

Chris O'Brien

Director of Business Development, CustomerFirst Renewables

Chris O’Brien is Director, Business Development at CustomerFirst Renewables and a long-time participant in Second Nature Summits and programs. He leads outreach and solution delivery efforts with a focus on the higher education market. He brings more than 20 years of energy, sustainability... Read More →

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

The Offset Network: Carbon Offsets Done Differently Through Campus Driven Projects

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This panel will introduce attendees to the members and recent work of the Offset Network-- a collaboration of higher education institutions to catalyze and support unique offset projects that provide educational and research opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. The mission of the network is to reduce barriers to entry for higher education institutions to implement offset projects.

Some key takeaways from this session:
-The Offset Network is a collaboration of higher education institutions to catalyze and support unique offset projects that provide educational and research opportunities for students, faculty, and staff
-Members of the Offset Network develop peer reviewed projects and submit protocols for review
-Network has robust potential for student engagement and involvement

Moderators

Andy DeMeo

Climate Programs Data Manager, Second Nature

Speakers

Matthew Arsenault

Program Manager, Duke University

Emma Fulop

Program Coordinator, Duke Carbon Offsets Inititive

David Vandermast

Associate Professor of Biology, Elon University

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality

1:00pm EST

What is a Net Zero or Net Positive Portfolio? Q&A with the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Net Zero Portfolio commitments are emerging as a key strategy for accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance, supported by the UNEP Finance Initiative and the Principles for Responsible Investment is a network of over 30 asset owners that have made this commitment. The standards and methodologies for net zero portfolios are still emerging and evolving. This session will be a chance to hear from the Alliance about what making a net zero commitment entails, the importance and impact of doing so, and what the challenges and emerging tools and solutions are.

Speakers

Jesica Andrews

Senior Project Manager, Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Solutions Providers, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

What is Shareholder Engagement?

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

What role do shareholders have in shaping the behavior of the companies they own? Whether you're an individual with mutual funds or an endowment with billions invested, you have power as a shareholder to ensure sustainable business practices.

Some Key Takeaways from this session:

Shareholder engagement is a tool that can be used to address a multitude of issue areas including racial equity, plastics, and antibiotic use.
Shareholders have many tools to draw from to engage including letter writing to companies, proxy voting at the annual meeting, dialogue and meetings with the company, filing a shareholder resolution, coalition building and campaigns, media engagement, and political advocacy.
Doing proper research (to identify current practices, impact, growth areas), building strong relationships, ensuring any action you take is working with, not against, the work of other shareholders, and utilizing resources discussed on the call (i.e. As You Sow Invest Your Values Tool, Climate Action 100+ Net Zero Benchmark) are essential steps to successful engagement.

Additional Resources:
As You Sow Invest Your Values reports on mutual funds' exposure to fossil fuels, tobacco, military weapons, civilian firearms and the prison industrial complex as well as exposure to corporate deforestation practices and an analysis of gender equality.
As You Sow's Shareholder Resolutions Tab tracks shareholder resolutions by year and focus.
As You Sow's Vote Your Shares Tab provides a how to on proxy voting, including a video explanation.

Speakers

Danielle Fugere

President & Chief Counsel, As You Sow

Lisa Lange

Engagement - EOS, Federated Hermes

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Knowledge, Policy
Audience (Scroll to see all) Solutions Providers, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees, Sustainability Staff

1:00pm EST

What’s in My Retirement Plan?

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Nonprofit institutions offer limited Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing options in their retirement plans, despite substantial evidence that these strategies reduce risk and enhance long-term investment performance. For those organizations that have added those funds, they have also recognized that it helps to attract and retain top employees. Join us for an informative, in depth and interactive session where we hear firsthand from a company representative why they wanted to add these funds, how they did so, and the results they have seen.

Resources:

Attachments below from Federated Hermes and Gitterman Wealth Management
Gitterman Wealth On Climate Change Investing

Some key takeaways from this session:

ESG and responsible investing is the best way to support long term value creation - ESG is a performance driver.
Employees should ask if there are ESG funds in their retirement plan and if not, ask why not.
When people find out that they have ESG options in their retirement plan, there is an uptake in enrollment and contribution level. This shows that many people are looking for these options, especially millennials and Generation Zers.

Moderators

Jeff Gitterman

Co-Founding Partner, Gitterman Wealth Management

Speakers

Maureen Kline

Vice President of Public Affairs & Sustainability North America, Pirelli Tire

Jim Roach

Senior Vice President, Retirement Strategies, Natixis Investment Managers

Mary Green

Vice President & Client Portfolio Manager ESG, Federated Hermes

Michael Rhim

Principal, PRM Consulting

Deb Boyden

Head of US Defined Contribution, Schroders

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EST

Presidential Pursuit Cohorts - February Milestone Meeting

This session is by invitation only, for Presidents, Chancellors, and Trustees of higher education institutions.

This invitation only session will begin with a high-level speaker/topic common to the higher education sector as a whole. Presidents will then break out into the cohorts according to institution types to learn about new models for action from peers, and create recommendations for how their institutions can lead action on climate, relying on unique institutional strengths.

Speakers

Dr. David Finegold

President, Chatham University

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Dr. F. Javier Cevallos

President, Framingham State University

Dr. Darron Collins

President, College of the Atlantic

Dr. Michael M. Crow

President, Arizona State University

Dr. Jean Goodnow

President, Delta College

Dr. Karin Hilgersom

President, Truckee Meadows Community College

Dr. Hilary L. Link

President, Allegheny College

Dr. Scott D. Miller

President, Virginia Wesleyan University

Dr. Mark Mitsui

President, Portland Community College

Dr. Valerie Newhouse

President, Iowa Lakes Community College

Dr. Elsa Núñez

President, Eastern Connecticut State University

Dr. Santa J. Ono

President & Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia

Dr. Robert C. Robbins

President, The University of Arizona

Mariko Silver

President & CEO, Luce Foundation

Nigel Topping

High Level Climate Champion, COP26

Dr. Wim Wiewel

President, Lewis & Clark College

Dr. Kim A. Wilcox

Chancellor, University of California Riverside

Jamie Merisotis

President & CEO, Lumina

Innovation and DiscoveryFuture of WorkDemocracyImmigration

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Zoom

President & Trustee Cohort

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors

1:00pm EST

Pursuit Team Formation Workshop

There will not be a recording of this session.

A workshop to discuss goal-setting, identify shared challenges and shared aspirations, and meet colleagues with similar interests. Participants can expect to engage with their peers from across higher ed and leave the workshop with tools, connections, resources, and goals to work towards to overcome tricky issues. Joining this workshop gives you the opportunity – but not an obligation – to form a team with colleagues to receive additional support through the Climate Action Pursuit.

Speakers

Russ Gaskin

Managing Partner, CoCreative

Sharon Simms

Consultant, CoCreative

Thursday February 25, 2021 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EST

Adult Allyship: How to Build an Intergenerational Climate Movement

The sole purpose of this training will be to improve literacy of older generations to build a more inclusive, intergenerational climate movement. We will dive deep into the values that youth carry and their vision for the future, as well as how adult allies at universities and institutions can listen to youth activists, create institutional infrastructure to support turning asks into action with students, and carving an equitable path forward for all.

Speakers

Gabby Heidrich

Youth Engagement Program Coordinator, Climate Reality Project

Tobias Hess

Student & Founder of the Sunrise Movement Chapter, Bard College

Harriet Shugarman

Executive Director, ClimateMama

Thursday February 25, 2021 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EST

Designing a Powerful Shared Intent

Whether your climate and justice initiative involves only people in your institution or a larger group of community stakeholders, a clear and powerful shared intent is key to success. In this session, Russ Gaskin and Sharon Simms explored how to form a powerful shared intent to keep diverse stakeholders at the table despite their differences, generate energy and momentum to fuel the work, and establish the focus for everyone to stay on track amidst competing priorities and political forces.

Speakers

Russ Gaskin

Managing Partner, CoCreative

Sharon Simms

Consultant, CoCreative

Thursday February 25, 2021 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EST

Equity in Practice: Integrating DE&I from Firm to Portfolio

There will not be a recording of this session.

In this workshop, we'll discuss how to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices throughout your organization - from organizational policies/procedures/culture straight through to business practices. Leaders from Global Endowment Management will talk about the evolution of DE&I at their firm, and we'll brainstorm as a group how to advance DE&I in our work.

Evidence – the business case for investing with a racial equity or diversity lens:

McKinsey: 10 year cost of racial wealth gap in America between $1 Trillion and $1.5 Trillion (Racial Equity)

Institutional Investor: VCs missing a trillion dollar opportunity (Diversity, Social and Racial Equity)

VCs lose trillions by bypassing diverse leaders (Diversity, Social and Racial Equity)

McKinsey Study: Delivering Through Diversity (Diversity)

FT: Investment Teams with more women or ethnic minorities outperform (Diversity, Social Equity)

Harvard Business School: The Other Diversity Dividend (Diversity)

Living Cities: Radical Collaboration for Black Wealth Creation (Racial Equity)

Stanford University: Race influences professional investors' financial judgments (Diversity, Racial Equity) – this one is particularly helpful in illustrating how standard investment practices may not adequately be meeting fiduciary duty hurdles

Knight Foundation: Diversifying Investments (Diversity, Racial and Social Equity)

Speakers

Pedro Henriques da Silva

Global Endowment Management

Pedro joined Global Endowment Management (GEM) in 2019, to support GEM's versatile impact investment work on behalf of mission-led institutional clients. Driven by impact, Pedro uses his experiences as a former educator, foundation in economics, and passion for positive investing... Read More →

Torrey Feimster

Director of D&I Advocacy, Global Endowment Management

Caroline Dallas

Associate Director, Private Investment Sourcing, Global Endowment Management

Thursday February 25, 2021 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Policy, Racial Justice, Community
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EST

Pursuing Climate Justice Through Climate Action: Perspectives across North American Universities

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session is an opportunity for board members, executives, faculty, staff and students to learn how climate justice is being incorporated into teaching, research and strategic planning at three North American universities. This will be an introductory session for participants working to transform a commitment to climate justice into action and will set the stage for a series where participant will develop a community of learning and be supported in implementing initiatives at their institution.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Great opportunities for collaborations between UC & CSU systems in climate justice
General acknowledgement that there is a need for a community of practice around how to integrate climate justice into climate action work at colleges and universities (i.e., there is no playbook for how to do this work).
Examples highlighted by the speakers from WWU, UC Merced, and UBC serve as inspirational starting points for building such a community of practice

Moderators

YeVonne Allen

Sustainability Program Director, Truckee Meadows Community College

YeVonne Allen, M.S. serves as the TMCC Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability Program Director. YeVonne champions the efforts for equity, inclusion, and diversity-related topics for students, staff, and faculty. She is the current TMCC Faculty Senate Chair, chair of the TMCC Diversity... Read More →

Speakers

Tracey Osborne

Associate Professor and UC Presidential Chair, University of California, Merced

Grace Wang

Professor and Department Chair, Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University

Walter Mérida

Senior Advisor to the President, University of British Columbia

Walter began his career working with Ballard Power Systems, British Gas Investments Canada, and universities more than twenty years ago. He was a founder and Board member for General Hydrogen Corporation, and the Institute for Breakthrough Energy Technologies in Vancouver. He wor... Read More →

Thursday February 25, 2021 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EST

Social Media Bootcamp

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Learn about the impact of social media in forwarding your institution’s mission and goals, and learn concrete strategies for how to identify your target community and how to reach them. You'll learn best practices on how to use social media platforms in this workshop.

Special Note
All attendees are welcome to bring 3 sheets of blank paper for this workshop.

Speakers

David W. Riggs

Founder, Pneuma Media

Thursday February 25, 2021 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) Solutions Providers, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

5:00pm EST

End-of-Day Reflection

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Open space for recapping the day’s sessions, reflecting, and planning for the work ahead.

Speakers

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Dr. Elsa Núñez

President, Eastern Connecticut State University

Alice DonnaSelva

Managing Director, Intentional Endowments Network

Thursday February 25, 2021 5:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Students, Trustees & Investment Committees

9:00am EST

Office Hours: Open Q&A with Experts & Peers

There will not be a recording of this session.

In this open session participants can have dialog with peers and private sector experts who provide services and solutions to institutions of higher education. Participants also may share some of their own solutions to vexing problems. The dialog is likely to focus on two topic areas: campus operations and asset management.

Moderators

Eric Howard

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Second Nature

I've been with Second Nature for 2+ years, assisting and directing our relationships with an array of entities that provide climate-related services to campuses.

Friday February 26, 2021 9:00am - 10:15am EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership

11:00am EST

Peer-to-Peer Conversations - All We Can Save

There will not be a recording of this session.

Inspired by our keynote speaker Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s work, this informal conversation will introduce the anthology All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. We’ll talk about ways to bring the book to life on your campus or in your organization, and reflect together on its themes! No need to do any reading in advance, but if you’d like to learn more about the anthology, take a look here.

Some key takeaways from this session:

A number of campuses are using or planning ways to connect across the full campus community on sustainability and climate justice, and to help people find their unique contributions to sustainability/climate justice no matter which field they work in/study.
All We Can Save circles are starting on a few campuses, and others will explore ways to use them this year.

Speakers

Hannah Bowen

Director of Events and Communications, Intentional Endowments Network

Susan Kidd

Executive Director of Sustainability, Agnes Scott College

Friday February 26, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership

11:00am EST

Peer-to-Peer Conversations - Campus Energy Transition

There will not be a recording of this session.

Peer to peer discussion around the topic of energy transition, steam to LTHW, heat trading, and how best to plan for campus disruption and equity within an energy transition.

Friday February 26, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Neutrality

12:30pm EST

Keynote Conversation: NAACP & Climate Justice

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Climate change has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low income communities in the United States and around the world. The NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program supports community leadership in addressing this human and civil rights issue. This session will provide an overview of the NAACP’s climate justice work and how it intersects with issues of health, food, and community resilience. Speakers will explore ways the higher education community can enhance its climate justice leadership in terms of campus culture, community engagement, education, and endowment investing.

Moderators

Marvin Owens

Chief Engagement Officer, Impact Shares

Speakers

Jacqueline Patterson

Director, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program, NAACP

Jacqueline Patterson is the Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. Since 2007 Patterson has served as coordinator & co-founder of Women of Color United. Jacqui Patterson has worked as a researcher, program manager, coordinator, advocate and activist working on women‘s rights, violence against women, HIV&AIDS, racial justice, economic justice, an... Read More →

Friday February 26, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Zoom

Keynote

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

2:00pm EST

Active Ownership in the Endowment: Warren Wilson College

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Warren Wilson College (WWC) has focused on intentionally applying environmental sustainability and social equity lenses to the management of its endowment for over 5 years. In 2019, WWC became active owners of their portfolio companies. Active ownership is an effective tool in the long term value creation of the companies colleges own. Come hear from the investment Committee Chair, a recent alum of the school, and the people in the active shareowner community who supported them as they co-filed resolutions at BlackRock, Alphabet and Amazon and voted proxies to support their institutional mission.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Active ownership is an under-utilized practice among university endowments though it can both align company practice with university mission and enhance the value of the companies owned.
All but the most well endowed institutions have limited people and time resources and often don't have the expertise required to enter into dialogue with the companies they own, engage in collective action with other investors or vote proxies.
Warren Wilson College overcame these resource hurdles by creating a responsible investing policy that gave birth to an ESG Advisory committee that included investment committee members and trustees and provided the specificity needed to direct engagement efforts. They then collaborated with experienced shareholder advocacy organizations to assist with co-filing resolutions and proxy voting.

Moderators

Alice DonnaSelva

Managing Director, Intentional Endowments Network

Speakers

Anthony Rust

Chair of the Investment Committee, Warren Wilson College

Ben Linthicum

Sustainability & ESG Analyst, HXE Partners

Timothy Smith

Director of ESG Shareowner Engagement, Boston Trust Walden

Chris Miller

Associate Vice President, Institutional Shareholder Services

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

2:00pm EST

Community Resilience Building on Your Campus: A Workshop with The Nature Conservancy and Second Nature

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

The need for academic institutions to build community resilience and adapt to extreme weather is now strikingly evident. Ongoing events continuously reinforce this urgency and compel leading communities to proactively plan and act. In response to this ever-increasing need and urgency, the Community Resilience Building (CRB) (www.CommunityResilienceBuilding.org) process was created. The CRB is a unique, “anywhere at any scale”, community-drive process, rich with information, experience, and dialogue to inclusively improve resilience to all natural hazards and climate change. To date over 425 communities across 9 states have benefited from CRB by developing community-generated and tailored resilience action plans. Amongst the communities that have benefited from CRB are academic institutions such as Tufts University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and California State University – Long Beach – via workshops provided through a partnership between Second Nature and The Nature Conservancy. These institutions represent a wide range of diversity from private to public and large too smaller. Due to the flexibility and structure of the CRB process it can be easily integrated into ongoing and initial climate adaptation, sustainability, and equity building efforts and also help institutions achieve their Second Nature Climate Commitment. This interactive session will cover the overall objectives, process, and outcomes of the CRB process along with specific examples from campuses in hopes of creating greater awareness and opportunity of an important and growing need amongst academic institutions across the United States and beyond.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Pro bono offer for 2-3 CLN members to participate in online CRB workshop with TNC and SN
Community resilience building is all about addressing issues related to equitable climate action
CRB is a proven and flexible model for resilience planning that can be applied at a variety of institution types and at various stages of the resilience planning process

Speakers

Adam Whelchel, PhD

Director of Science, The Nature Conservancy

Alex Maxwell

Senior Manager of Climate Programs, Second Nature

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community

2:00pm EST

GRITS and SIMAP - Updates and New Functionality

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

This session shares GRITS Goals and the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP) new suite of features and updates. GRITS Goals sustainability project-management platform helps campuses build climate action plan models by assembling projects into resource reduction scenarios at the institution-wide, campus, or building scale. SIMAP continues to be the most widely used campus carbon and nitrogen footprinting tool and has recently released updated emission factors, a biogenic report, new methodologies, and much more! Come hear how each tool can support your climate action planning efforts and how they are working together to integrate some cross platform data.

Speakers

Jennifer Andrews

Project Director, UNH Sustainability Institute

Allison Leach

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of New Hampshire

Mark Orlowski

Founder & Executive Director, Sustainable Endowments Institute

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality

2:00pm EST

How Students Can Impact Corporate Behavior Through Engagement

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

There is immense opportunity to create impact through shareholder engagement in public equity investments. The scale and influence of such a mainstream asset class make it tremendously important to be able to spot opportunities to engage as shareholders. On this panel, you will hear from students, faculty, and industry professionals as they discuss how, through working with their institution's endowment, utilizing student-managed investment funds, and participating in extracurricular activities, they are impacting corporate behavior through shareholder engagement. Examples that will be discussed include drafting proxy voting guidelines, co-filing a shareholder resolution, and participating in a student competition focused on engagement.

Speakers

Dorien Nunez

Co-Founder & Director of Research, OMNIResearch & OMNI Wall St Advantage

Susanna Gibbons, CFA

Faculty & Managing Director, David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise at the University of Minnesota

Susanna has over 30 years of investment industry experience across multiple asset classes - equities, alternatives, and fixed income; and multiple roles - analytical, portfolio management, consulting, and educational. She serves on the Investment Advisory Council for the Minnesota... Read More →

Jacob Ivy

Masters in Sustainability Solutions Candidate, Arizona State University

Jae Nam

MBA Candidate, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Policy, Student Leadership, Neutrality, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Students

2:00pm EST

Net Zero Endowments: Making the Commitment

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

As asset owners, endowments have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate a just transition to a net zero economy by making a commitment to a net zero portfolio by 2050 or sooner. Doing so can also protect the endowment from climate risk, and enhance returns. While the concept is still new, several pioneering endowments have joined other asset owners in making this commitment. This in turn is pushing asset managers, data providers, and others to develop net zero strategies and answer open questions on this approach. In this session, participants will hear from those leading asset owners on how their institution made the decision to commit to net zero, what challenges they face, and next steps in the process of measuring, setting targets, and reporting on progress.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Climate risk is a threat to the global economy; a rapid, Just Transition to a low-carbon economy must and will take place. Asset owners need to prepare for that by committing to net zero commitments.
Challenges to making a Net Zero commitment include the lack of examples (not many asset owners have made commitments yet); It is complex; There is a need for standards to identify the correct metrics and data to use; Transparency into managers’ policies and activities can be limited. Asset owners need to educate themselves on how to do this within the context of their own portfolio.
Engagement with others is key -- Asset owners have a huge role to play and can leverage greater impact by influencing investment managers to establish net zero strategies. Need to engage with companies, investment managers, and policy makers to reduce the systemic risks of climate and support a Just Transition.

Moderators

Bob Litterman

Chairman, Risk Committee and Academic Advisory Board at Kepos Capital

Speakers

Kathryn I. Murtagh, Esq.

Managing Director for Sustainable Investing & Chief Compliance Officer, Harvard Management Company, Inc.

Afsaneh Beschloss

Board Member, WRI Global Board of Directors; Founder and CEO, Rock Creek

Nili Gilbert

Investment Committee Chair, David Rockefeller Fund

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality, Policy
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees, Students

2:00pm EST

Racial Equity Investing - Creating Your Own Best Practices

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

For investors looking to truly address the economic effects brought on by social inequities, progress towards racial equity must be a key consideration in the investment approach. In this session, we will hear from an asset allocator, investment consultant, and asset manager who have made considerable strides in racial equity investing, spanning from enhancing diversity within their own institutions, investing with diverse founders, allocating to funds or businesses that focus on improving socio-economic outcomes for people of color, or engaging with companies on issues that relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The panelists will walk participants through their own journeys providing concrete examples of what racial equity investing looks like, best practices that they have learned in their journey, and hurdles they had to overcome. We will also break out into smaller groups to discuss pain points and workshop your own racial diversity and equity plans. The purpose of this session is for participants to leave with a strong sense of what can be done as the next steps within their own organizations.

Resources:

Some key takeaways from this session:

There is no performance gap that explains the capital allocation gap to diverse managers. You can argue that asset owner portfolios are at a relative distangage if they’re not getting the representative allocation to top performing diverse managers. This is a social issue as well as an investment issue.
To catalyze movement of capital to diverse managers, investors need to shift our due diligence processes to consider track record alternatives, expand what it means to work together ,reassess AUM as a risk metric, respect BIPOC time, contextualize fees, include historically unrecognized risks, be willing to go first, offer transparency about remaining hurdles, provide detailed feedback (more on these points on Due Diligence Commitment 2.0)
Asset owners and allocators need to take a multi-pronged approach such as looking at asset management firm’s diversity in ownership & leadership, commitment to the next generation pipeline building, and assets invested with diverse founders.

Moderators

Justin Wilson

Director, Diverse Asset Management Initiative (DAMI)

Speakers

Rachel Robasciotti

Founder & CEO, Adasina Capital

Gerry Watson

Executive Vice President of Finance & Operations, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Tamara Larsen

Executive Director, Mission-Aligned Investing, Agility

Tamara Larsen is an Executive Director with Agility, where she leads the Mission-Aligned Investment practice of the firm and sits on the Agility Investment Committee. Tamara is responsible for partnering with clients to further align their investment portfolio with their values. She... Read More →

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Trustees & Investment Committees, DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Students

2:00pm EST

The Path to Carbon Neutrality: Thoughts and Reflections from North American Research Universities

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Arizona State University, University of British Columbia, and University of California - Merced each set operational goals for and achieved climate neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. Each university’s path to neutrality reflects its unique context in terms of climate, size, age of buildings and infrastructure, organizational culture, and regulatory environment. Together, their journeys reflect a tapestry of approaches and experiences that can help other institutions in their own race to address the climate crisis. Representatives from each university will share their journey and then engage in a discussion about how they can improve upon their institution’s solutions and/or expand their operational response to climate change.

Some key takeaways from this session:

Ambitious goals lead to action and progress
National policy can drive decarbonization. Canada carbon pricing
It seems that BIPOC communities are not at the decision making table for large infrastructure investments. Not sure where they fall in the decision making process. Most to the climate justice was focused on educational access and supporting community projects (tree planting, transportation, food) no mention of this consideration during contracting, governance, financing.

Moderators

Stephen Muzzy

Senior Manager of Climate Programs, Second Nature

Speakers

John Madden

Sustainability and Engineering, University of British Columbia

Michael Dalrymple

Director, University Sustainability Practices, Arizona State University

Breeana Sylvas

Assistant Director Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Analytics, University of California, Merced

Friday February 26, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality

3:30pm EST

Peer to Peer Conversation Block

There will not be a recording of this session.

Take some time to join semi-structured networking / working sessions for goal-setting before this milestone closes. Any Pursuit Teams that have already formed will meet as a team; other participants can join a breakout with people in similar roles to set personal and institutional goals that the rest of the Climate Action Pursuit milestones can advance – use this space to suggest sessions for June!

Speakers

Russ Gaskin

Managing Partner, CoCreative

Sharon Simms

Consultant, CoCreative

Friday February 26, 2021 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership

5:00pm EST

End-of-Milestone Reflection & Next Steps

Click VIDEO STREAM to watch the recording of this session.

Open space for recapping the milestone, reflecting, and planning for the work ahead.

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Alice DonnaSelva

Managing Director, Intentional Endowments Network

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Speakers

Dr. Mark Mitsui

President, Portland Community College

Neda Nobari

Vice Chair, San Francisco State University Foundation Board

Neda Nobari, Vice Chair of the Foundation Board, San Francisco State UniversityNeda Nobari is the current Vice Chair of the Foundation Board at San Francisco State University, Former Chair and current member of the Investment Committee, Alumna of the Year 2020 and an inductee into... Read More →

Friday February 26, 2021 5:00pm - 5:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership

2:00pm EDT

Optional: Pursuit Teams meeting space

Join via the Zoom link to meet with your Pursuit Team or learn more about joining one.

Tuesday March 16, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
TBA

Peer to Peer Conversation

9:00am EDT

Orientation to the Climate Action Pursuit (Option 1)

This informal space is an opportunity to connect with IEN and Second Nature staff to get your bearings before the Climate Action Pursuit’s June milestone gets underway. Ask questions about using the technology (Sched, Zoom, and Slido), hear more about the agenda, identify which sessions will be most valuable to your work, or just sign on to test out your Zoom connection. If you did not participate in the February milestone, this is also a great opportunity to hear what we learned and where we’re picking up in this year-long journey of learning-to-action. All are welcome, whether you’re a newcomer to this platform or have been deeply involved in the planning. We’re offering two orientation options to accommodate timezones and schedules - 9-10am ET or 4-5pm ET on Wednesday, June 9th.

Speakers

Hannah Bowen

Director of Events and Communications, Intentional Endowments Network

Michele Madia

Senior Director of Programs and Communications, Second Nature

Wednesday June 9, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

4:00pm EDT

Orientation to the Climate Action Pursuit (Option 2)

Speakers

Hannah Bowen

Director of Events and Communications, Intentional Endowments Network

Michele Madia

Senior Director of Programs and Communications, Second Nature

Wednesday June 9, 2021 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

9:30am EDT

Host Institution Teams Coffee Hour

Thursday June 10, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

9:30am EDT

Staff Office Hours

Open space for conversations with IEN and Second Nature staff.

Thursday June 10, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

11:00am EDT

Browning the Green Space - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in Practice

This featured workshop on Browning the Green Space - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in Practice will provide participants an overview of the primary role that justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion play in advancing climate action within higher education. In this session, we will explore systems-based approaches to promoting JEDI objectives in pursuing energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable resource management, and more by examining how these approaches intersect with several key pillars - careers & companies, capital & contracts, and communities.

Speakers

Julianne Zimmerman

Managing Director, Reinventure Capital

For more than 25 years Julianne has been putting technology and capital to work for the greater good in a variety of sectors and applications. She is currently Managing Director , Reinventure Capital. She has previously served as: Co-Founder (seed-stage investment); VP of communications... Read More →

Kerry Bowie

Managing Director & Founder, of Msaada Partners, Browning the Green Space

Kerry is the Managing Partner of Msaada Partners and the Majira Project, a nonprofit accelerator program and innovator support organization that helps small businesses and startups grow with a mission of community development through entrepreneurship. Kerry works at the nexus of social... Read More →

Amanda Downey

VP, Business Performance & Planning NE, National Grid

Amanda is Senior Counsel at National Grid US, an electricity and gas company serving New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Amanda supports the Company’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated businesses and serves as lead in-house counsel for the Company’s FERC... Read More →

Jacquie Ashmore

Madeline Wang

Founder & CEO, 7 C's

Madeline is the founder of 7Cs Leadership Workshop. She previously was the Managing Director - Capital Markets and Credit at BlueWave Solar and has extensive industry experience with distributed solar (small utility-scale, C&I, and residential), energy efficiency, utilities and independent... Read More →

Jeremy McDiarmid

As Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs, Jeremy leads NECEC's policy and government affairs team. Prior to joining NECEC, he served as Commercial Business Development Manager at SunBug Solar. Before joining SunBug, Jeremy advised Acadia Center on organizational and operational... Read More →

Dan Goldman

Vice President & Treasurer,, Browning the Green Spaces

Daniel Goldman is a co-founder and managing director at Clean Energy Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage climate tech companies commercializing disruptive advanced energy technologies that can grow to scale and address global climate disruption. Mr... Read More →

Spencer Irvine

Thursday June 10, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

12:45pm EDT

Lunchtime Discussion Groups

Open space for conversations with other Climate Action Pursuit participants

Thursday June 10, 2021 12:45pm - 1:15pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

12:45pm EDT

Pursuit Team Meeting Space

This space will be available for existing Pursuit Teams to connect and check in.

Thursday June 10, 2021 12:45pm - 1:15pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

1:30pm EDT

Next Level Conversations - Curriculum & Community Engagement

In this session, you’ll hear silo-breaking updates from peers leading on climate justice through universities’ curriculum design and collaborative work to address issues affecting communities well-being. In constructive presentations, experts in the field will share their experience at the cutting edge of trends - and why you should follow up to implement these action steps on your campus/in your organization. After hearing what’s new across the field, you’ll have an opportunity right away to start digging deeper by joining a smaller, peer-to-peer conversation with the experts on the topic of your choice. Can’t pick just one? There will also be an opportunity to book 1-1 or small group time with the presenters during tomorrow’s open meeting space or times throughout the next week. Topics include:
Topic 1: Educating the Next Generation of Sustainable Investment Leaders: Starting and Managing a Student-Managed Investment Fund
Topic 2: Betting on Social Progress: Breckinridge and the Social Progress Imperative
Topic 3: Campus-Community Partnerships on Climate Action: Applications of the EPIC model
Topic 4: Reinforcing Resilience: Going beyond traditional hazard assessments to bolster adaptive capacity

Moderators

Marshall Curry

Program Manager, EPIC-N

Marshall Curry joined EPIC-N in September 2017. He manages day-to-day operations, and provides support to member programs and board members, while living in his hometown of Springfield, Oregon. He received a MPA and a MS in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon in... Read More →

Speakers

Korin Tangtrakul

Sustainability Manager, Drexel University

Korin Tangtrakul is the Sustainability Manager for the Sustainable Water Resource Engineering (SWRE) Lab under Dr. Franco Montalto of Drexel University. With experience in geography, urban planning, green infrastructure, community engagement and environmental activism, Korin's current... Read More →

Susanna Gibbons, CFA

Faculty & Managing Director, David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise at the University of Minnesota

Kayla Hickman

Sustainability Coordinator, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)

Kayla Hickman has spent 3 years working within the field of higher education sustainability, and is currently the Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). She assists UMBC in achieving its carbon neutrality goal through engaging faculty, staff... Read More →

Tim Coffin

Director, Sustainability, Breckinridge

Anne Reichman

Director, Sustainable Cities Network, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Arizona State University

Anne is Director of Arizona State University’s (ASU) Sustainable Cities Network, an award winning program within ASU’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) that is comprised of city, county and tribal community practitioners and leaders in sustainability-related... Read More →

Steven Russell

Program Manager of Project Cities, Arizona State University

Steve Russell is the Program Manager of Project Cities, at Arizona State University’s Sustainable Cities Network. In this capacity, Russell coordinates research projects to help municipal governments to advance their sustainability goals. Russell holds a Master’s Degree in Public... Read More →

Laura Martin

Associate Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, University of Mississippi

Dr. Laura Martin serves as Associate Director of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, a center at the University of Mississippi that fights poverty through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Laura engages faculty, staff, students, and community... Read More →

Mazi Ferguson

Interim Director, Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships, University of South Florida

As the Assistant Program Director of OCEP, Mazi provides strategic and operational direction and support for the programming efforts for community engagement for the Tampa Campus. Mazi develops internal systems and materials for program delivery and service while acting as a resource... Read More →

Karan Kishorepuria

Director of Fund Development at NUImpact, Northeastern University

Ryan Kmetz

Assistant Director of Sustainability, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)

Ryan Kmetz is a climate resilience and sustainability professional whose work is focused on using data-driven GIS to solve complex problems while simultaneously telling compelling stories. Kmetz serves on Second Nature's Resilience working group and has spoken on GIS and climate resilience... Read More →

Thursday June 10, 2021 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Neutrality, Racial Justice, Knowledge, Policy, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees
Contact sheet youtu.be/_OS3ci-NI9w

2:45pm EDT

Host Institution Meeting Space

This space will be available for Host Institution teams to grab a quick breakout room together to check in and discuss what they're hearing, who they're connecting with, and what they want to proiritize next.

Thursday June 10, 2021 2:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

3:00pm EDT

Just and Equitable Climate Action Planning: Integrating climate justice and equity into CAPs and the climate action planning process

This workshop will focus on the ways that college/universities can develop more just and equitable climate action plans drawing on the experiences of several higher education institutions and other cross-sector partners.

Speakers

Stephania Fregosi

Sustainability Analyst, Portland Community College

Stephania Fregosi (she/her(s)), got into sustainability as a result of childhood experiences that included sailing, travel, a semester at a farm, and a concern for human rights. At Portland Community College, she conducts data analysis and performs research. Stephania earned an MSEL... Read More →

Aurora Winslade

Director of Sustainability, Swarthmore College

Aurora serves as the Director of Sustainability for Swarthmore College and a faculty member in Bard College’s Sustainable MBA program. Aurora previously founded new sustainability programs at the University of California Santa Cruz and the University of Hawaii. She also previously... Read More →

YeVonne Allen

Sustainability Program Director, Truckee Meadows Community College

Lee Ball

Chief Sustainability Officer, Appalachian State

Lee F. Ball Jr. currently serves as Appalachian State University’s Chief Sustainability Officer. He has a PhD in Sustainability Education, an MA in Environmental Education, and a BS in Natural Science. Lee has spent the last 30 years working as an advocate for the environment and... Read More →

Janika McFeely

Associate Principal, Sr Sustainability Consultant, Integral Group

Janika is an architect and senior sustainability consultant with over a dozen years of experience in green building, decarbonization, and climate action. Prior to joining Integral Group she worked for the University of California Office of the President on climate action planning... Read More →

Marybelle Tobias

Founder and Principal, Environmental Justice Solutions

Marybelle Nzegwu Tobias is an environmental and climate justice consultant with over 13 years of experience as an environmental and climate justice advocate and community partner with demonstrated ability to develop equitable policies and programs and build impactful alliances and... Read More →

Thursday June 10, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Neutrality, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Students, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

3:00pm EDT

Policy Briefing - How to Understand, Adapt to, and Influence the Rules of a Sustainable Economy

In this workshop, participants will learn about how regulators in Europe and the U.S. are reshaping the investment and business landscape, and make plans to take action to shape and respond to the evolving policy context. Some questions we’ll answer together during the workshop include:
Who is proposing, evaluating, and enforcing the rules around the environmental, social, and governance priorities in our economy?
Which of those rules are likely to change, and how can you prepare as an investor?
How can you - as a student, higher education staff member, investor, researcher, or other stakeholder in our economy - help shape the rules to promote racial justice, environmental justice, climate action, and responsible corporate governance?
Which organizations, resources, and tools already exist to help us take action?

This will be an active discussion, with participants joining breakout groups to discuss timely opportunities for action.

Speakers

Dawn Slevin

Managing Director, Environmental Liability Solutions Europe

Dawn is Managing Director of ELS Europe and Co-Chair of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) Project Task Force on reporting of non-financial risks & opportunities (PTF-RNFRO). From June 2018 to September 2020 Dawn Co-chaired the â€˜do no significant harm... Read More →

Brian Kennedy

Director, Portfolio Manager, Davy Global Fund Management

Brian Kennedy is a portfolio manager working on the Davy ESG Equity and Davy Low Carbon Equity funds. Brian joined the asset management business of Davy from Allianz Global Investors in London, one of the worldâ€™s largest sustainable investment groups. Brian started his career... Read More →

Billy Gridley

Director, Investor Network, Ceres

Billy supports the Ceres Investor Network whose members are global asset owners and managers committed to addressing sustainability issues in their investment practices, corporate engagements and policy advocacy. He collaborates with other Ceres teams to identify sustainable investing... Read More →

Thursday June 10, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Policy, Neutrality, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

3:00pm EDT

Your Retirement Plan is Contributing to Climate Change and Inequality, what are you doing about it?

The higher education, foundation, and nonprofit communities are taking great strides in reducing their impacts on the planet, as well as fostering inclusive environments on campus.
Yet, a “blind spot” exists between an organization’s goals and the retirement investments they provide on behalf of its employees. Many retirement funds invest in companies with poor track records on the environment, diversity, and racial justice. This session is designed to give you a new toolkit needed to correct this and begin moving the more than $1 trillion in 403(b) in assets towards a world that fosters a healthier planet and a more just society for all.

Speakers

Jim Roach

Senior Vice President, Retirement Strategies, Natixis Investment Managers

Sarah Bratton Hughes

Head of Sustainability - North America, Schroders

Mary Green

Vice President & Client Portfolio Manager ESG, Federated Hermes

Michael Rhim

Principal, PRM Consulting

Sponsors

Natixis Investment Managers

Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. They offer more than 200 investment strategies, built on a broad and global platform of independent managers.

Thursday June 10, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

4:30pm EDT

Lightning Round: Ambitious Goals and Who Can Help You Meet Them

In this session, hear inspiring, short "lightning round" presentations about what is possible in our field, on topics such as:
- Making a Net Zero Portfolio Commitment
- The Student Corporate Engagement Competition
- Creating Racial Equity Standards for Impact Investing
- Effectively Working with Community Partners in Resilience Planning
and more!

Speakers

Dave Karlsgodt

Director, Brailsford & Dunleavy

Jacob Ivy

Masters in Sustainability Solutions Candidate, Arizona State University

Vivian Chen

Student, Arizona State University

Chris O'Brien

Director of Business Development, CustomerFirst Renewables

Tynesia Boyea-Robinson

CEO, CapEQ

Tynesia is an entrepreneur, Six Sigma blackbelt, and technologist uniquely positioned to catalyze a results-driven era of social change. She has been religiously leading and writing about enterprises that â€œdo well and do goodâ€ for over a decade.

Bob Hinkle

President & CEO, Metrus Energy

Bob Hinkle is President & CEO of Metrus Energy and founded the company in 2009. He has over 20 years of energy efficiency and clean energy finance experience and was previously with MMA Renewable Ventures, Bechtel, Booz Allen & Hamilton and the California Clean Energy Fund. He has... Read More →

Erika Murphy

Managing Director and Investment Director, Climate Platform, Wellington Management

As investment director of Wellington’s Climate Platform, Erika partners with our Climate Research Team and advises clients on both transition and physical climate risks and opportunities across traditional and alternative asset classes. She contributes to climate-focused strategic... Read More →

David Krantz

David Krantz is a doctoral student at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University, where he is a leader in the student-run ESG shareholder-engagement group. He holds master's degrees from New YorkUniversity and the University of California, Berkeley.

Noorie Rajvanshi

Director, Sustainability and Climate Strategy, Siemens USA

With more than a decade of experience in the field of environmental sustainability, energy, and urban development, Noorie is responsible for supporting the strategy and execution of the Siemens US region’s decarbonization plan to achieve carbon neutral operations by 2030. In this... Read More →

Thursday June 10, 2021 4:30pm - 5:15pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers
Contact sheet docs.google.com/document/d/1yvWuTyea14mQbLcb5U4D3mZDCeqHkvl9VtiLK4vdv3c/edit#

5:30pm EDT

End of Day Reflection

Open space for reflecting on the day’s sessions, connecting with a cross-section of Climate Action Pursuit participants, and preparing for Day 2 of this milestone.

Thursday June 10, 2021 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

9:30am EDT

Pursuit Teams Coffee Hour

This space will be available for existing Pursuit Teams to connect and check in.

Friday June 11, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

9:30am EDT

Open Space for Conversation

Sign in to this session to meet with other participants in self-organized 1-1, small group, regional, or serendipitous conversations. A staff member will be online in this Zoom space to connect participants who want to drop in and start a conversation, and/or send people who have pre-arranged among themselves to "meet in the lobby" into their own breakout rooms. This space is for you to use however best meets your needs for informal conversations and networking.

Friday June 11, 2021 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

11:00am EDT

Using Your Institutional Power to Achieve Climate Justice

In this workshop, we’ll equip stakeholders to leverage the full power and assets of higher education institutions to achieve climate justice. The workshop will kick off with remarks by Dr. Davarian Baldwin, the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies at Trinity College, to talk about "The Anti-Racist University: Why Equity and Inclusion Cannot Stop at the Campus Gates," providing a big picture view of current and historical origins of university power & wealth. We will then engage in an active learning and peer-to-peer conversations to cover approaches to developing a more equitable relationship between our communities and our universities for climate justice in several action areas including: endowment investing, procurement, hiring, capital improvements and infrastructure planning, reparations programs, and staff retirement plans.

Speakers

Davarian Baldwin

Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies, Trinity College

Davarian L. Baldwin is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies and founding director of the Smart Cities Lab at Trinity College (CT). He is the author of In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities are Plundering Our Cities; Chicago's New Negroes: Modernity... Read More →

Friday June 11, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

1:00pm EDT

Empowering People-Oriented Climate Action: Santa Clara University, Dickinson College, & EcoChallenge.org

Santa Clara University and Dickinson College have embraced the power of collective action to augment their campuses' operational climate initiatives. EcoChallenge.org provides tools and resources to unite individuals, campuses and communities in drawing down climate change and using behavioral strategies for positive change. Speakers in this session will share their tools and practices to invite and empower students, faculty, and staff to easily see how the choices they make contribute to collective campus and global sustainability goals, as well as how those collective actions are measured and shared.

Speakers

Lindsey Lyons

Assistant Director, Center for Sustainability Education, Dickinson College

Lindsey Lyons came to Dickinson College in 2011 as the Assistant Director of the Center for Sustainability Education. Lyons completed her B.S. in biology from Lynchburg College and a M.S. in environmental education from Southern Oregon University. As a certified K-12 teacher, outdoor... Read More →

Lacy Cagle

Director of Learning, Ecochallenge . org

Lacy Cagle is a systems-focused leader and community education facilitator. As Director of Learning at Ecochallenge.org, she developed and refined a system of high quality learning programs that inspire sustainability action and advocacy, and cultivated Ecochallenge.orgâ€™s thought... Read More →

Lindsey Kalkbrenner

Director, Center for Sustainability, Santa Clara University

Lindsey has 15 years of experience galvanizing SCU's transformation into a top-tier sustainability performer. She combines grassroots mobilization and change agent expertise with her commitment to environmental health, financial strength, and social justice to lead the Center for... Read More →

Friday June 11, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Policy, Community, Student Leadership, Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

1:00pm EDT

Forest carbon offsets to meet net zero commitments

This session will introduce forest carbon offsets and consider their role in helping university campuses and endowments meet net zero climate commitments. It brings fresh perspectives on how and why nature-based solutions, specifically forest carbon offsets, are an important part of global climate change mitigation and a helpful tool for achieving net zero targets. TFG is a large timberland investment manager with a focus on natural forests that is actively participating in both regulatory and voluntary markets as a producer of high-quality forestry offsets. Bluesource is a leading North American offset developer, with a deep background in project development as well as credit marketing and sales. Danone has committed to becoming net zero by 2050 and plans to include offsets as a part of its diverse strategy for climate neutrality. Together, our participating panelists will cover a) What are forest carbon credits and how are they developed; b) Why forest carbon credits are a natural climate solution and how they can play a role on the path to neutrality; and, c) How have corporations, universities and endowments utilized forest carbon credits.

Speakers

Cakey Washington

Director, Forest Carbon, The Forestland Group LLC

Christopher Adamo

Vice President, Federal and Industry Affairs, Danone

Janet Peace

Chief of Advisory Services, Bluesource

As long-time environmental advocate, Dr. Peace brings a wide spectrum of experience and passion to environmental policy career. As part of the executive management team at Bluesource LLC, she provides strategic advice to companies, NGOs and policy makers on options for reducing greenhouse... Read More →

Tommie Elder

Director of Investor Relations, The Forestland Group LLC

Tommie Elder is the Director of Investor Relations for The Forestland Group (TFG). TFG invests in sustainable natural forest management to deliver financial returns and climate change mitigation. Tommie leads new product development, investor outreach, and relationship management... Read More →

Friday June 11, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

1:00pm EDT

Net Zero Endowments - How Asset Managers & Industry Initiatives Can Help Endowments Reach Net Zero

Asset Managers will play a key role in ensuring endowments can meet Net Zero Portfolio commitments, to reduce emissions and drive equitable climate solutions in the real economy. This session will include perspectives from leading asset managers and nonprofit industry initiatives on the latest state of play and best practices. Participants will explore the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, Investor Climate Action Plans (ICAPs), and other industry initiatives enabling effective pathways to a net zero economy. Half of the session will be spent in breakout rooms for small-group dialogue and action planning.

Moderators

Mahesh Roy

Senior Manager, Capital Markets, CDP

Mahesh Roy is a Senior Manager in CDP’s capital markets team working with Financial Institutions in transitioning lending and investment portfolios to net zero and collaborating with investor networks including the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, The Investor Agenda and the... Read More →

Lindsey White

Director, Investor Network, Ceres

Lindsey is a Director of the Ceres Investor Network on Climate Risk and Sustainability. In this role, she works to strengthen and expand the participation of U.S. and Canadian asset owners and asset managers in the Ceres Investor Network, the investor group committed to more rigorous... Read More →

Speakers

Tamara Larsen

Executive Director, Mission-Aligned Investing, Agility

Edward Mason

Generation Investment Management

Friday June 11, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EDT

Open Space for Conversation

Friday June 11, 2021 1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

2:15pm EDT

Host Institution Meeting Space

Friday June 11, 2021 2:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

2:30pm EDT

Keynote Conversation: Leah Stokes and Nikayla Jefferson

A keynote conversation between Leah Stokes and Nikayla Jefferson about how young activism can impact climate and energy policy at various levels of decision-making and types of decision-makers. This session will provide inspirational examples of how advocacy can be used as a critical strategic tool to implement just and equitable climate solutions.

Speakers

Leah Stokes

Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science | Affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Barbara

Nikayla Jefferson

Sunrise San Diego / UCSB

Friday June 11, 2021 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
Zoom

Keynote

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

3:30pm EDT

Next Level Conversations - Operations & Finance

In this session, you’ll hear silo-breaking updates from peers leading on climate justice in university operations and finance, including endowment investing. In efficient presentations, experts in the field will share their experience at the cutting edge of trends - and why you should follow up to implement these action steps on your campus/in your organization. After hearing what’s new across the field, you’ll have an opportunity right away to start digging deeper by joining a smaller, peer-to-peer conversation with the experts on the topic of your choice. Can’t pick just one? There will also be an opportunity to book 1-1 or small group time with the presenters during tomorrow’s open meeting space or times throughout the following week. Topics such as:
Topic 1 - How To : The Simple Power of Incorporating Racial Justice into a Net-Zero Portfolio
Topic 2 - Charge On!: How to Electrify Your Fleet
Topic 3 - How to Implement a Carbon Pricing Scheme: Perspectives from the Higher Ed Carbon Pricing Working Group
Topic 4 - Shareholder Engagement for Curriculum and Campus Goals (Net Zero, DEI)

Speakers

Pedro Henriques da Silva

Global Endowment Management

Sarah Reed

Program Manager, Electrification Coalition

Elizabeth Drake

Climate Action Manager, Swarthmore College

James Ritchotte

Executive Director, Climate Mayors

Ryan Taylor

Project Coordinator, ASU Enterprise Partners

ask me about shareholder engagement at Arizona State University!

Susan Sayre

Associate Professor of Economics, Smith College

Susan Stratton Sayre is an Associate Professor of Economics at Smith College. She received her B.A. with majors in Economics and Religion from Swarthmore College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. She uses numerical... Read More →

Casey Pickett

Director of the Carbon Charge, Yale University

Casey manages various environmental programs for the Yale Provost’s Office, including the Yale Carbon Charge, the Yale Planetary Solutions Project, and the university’s Carbon Offsets Program. He is the host of Pricing Nature... Read More →

Austin Wilson

Head of Active Ownership and Associate ESG/SRI Strategist, Aperio Group (part of Blackrock)

Austin Wilson is Aperio’s Head of Active Ownership and Associate ESG/SRI Strategist. He oversees Aperio’s proxy voting and shareholder advocacy services, helping clients influence the companies in which they invest. Prior to Aperio, Austin was the Environment Health Program Manager... Read More →

Andrew Behar

Chief Executive Officer, As You Sow

Andrew Behar is CEO of As You Sow, the nation’s leading non-profit practitioner of shareholder advocacy and engagement. Since 1992, As You Sow has used shareholder power to align investments with values and compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change... Read More →

Lisa Marie Tornatore

Director of BU Sustainability, Boston University

From a Sargent College Sustainability Liaison to the BU Sustainability Director, Lisa (CAS’02) partners with colleagues across BU to advance sustainable procurement policies and practices, electric vehicle infrastructure, green buildings, sustainable dining, and engagement opportunities... Read More →

Thomas Poveromo

Fleet Procurement Specialist, University of California, Los Angeles

Tom Poveromo is a Fleet Procurement Specialist at UCLA Fleet and Transit Services. He has worked at the university for over 22 years and oversees a fleet of close to 1000 vehicles including street-legal low-speed vehicles (LSV’s). Tom takes pride in bringing new all-electric vehicles... Read More →

Jared Walker

Senior Program Specialist, Electrification Coalition

Jared Walker is a Senior Programs Specialist at the Electrification Coalition where he is responsible for providing technical fleet management and operational support to the team. With 13+ years of experience in fleet management, he is well equipped to support the effort to electrify... Read More →

Friday June 11, 2021 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Knowledge, Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Student Leadership
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers
Contact sheet docs.google.com/document/d/1TMKHzpCx1hn-LL6Q0JjO8YIDQwcJdowyuy4uTju3oEE/edit?usp=sharing
Carbon Pricing Case Study & Info docs.google.com/document/d/1xQcvEo8IfwzYc5pAr7S6FnJZCFFfkWlskkaH7AWDBMI/edit?usp=sharing

5:00pm EDT

End of Milestone Reflection

Friday June 11, 2021 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Solutions Providers

1:30pm EDT

Presidential Pursuit Cohort -- June Milestone Meeting

This invitation only session will begin with representatives from the Biden Administration discussing Justice, Jobs and Innovation. Presidents will then break out into the cohorts according to institution types to learn about new models for action from peers, and create recommendations for how their institutions can lead action on climate, relying on unique institutional strengths.

Wednesday June 23, 2021 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT
Zoom

President & Trustee Cohort

1:00pm EDT

IEN Webinar: Creating Racial Equity Standards for Investing

Tynesia Boyea-Robinson, CEO of CapEQ, will lead participants through how best to integrate racial equity into the field of impact investing. The conversation will be guided by practical lessons from a variety of industries, including institutional investing, private equity, and small business technical assistance providers, to help participants understand why we need to apply a racial equity lens to impact investing, and how that can be done.

Racial disparities in business and finance are stark: 40% of the US population are people of color, but they represent only 20% of businesses with employees. The average white-owned business has over $18,000 in equity at founding, but the average Black-owned business has only $500. And only 1% of total global AUM are managed by Black people.

Impact investing as an industry has begun to solve some of these issues, but many of the systemic problems of investing have been replicated by the impact investing field. While impact investing has made great strides around ESG considerations, racial equity and racial justice has not been a major focus of the industry until recently. And this lack of a racial equity lens leaves money on the table: if 15% of Black-owned businesses were able to hire one more employee, the American economy could grow by $55 billion.

This session will engage participants to think about the positive financial implications of integrating racial equity considerations into their investment decisions and key equity factors that should be included in the overall approach.

Speakers

Tynesia Boyea-Robinson

CEO, CapEQ

Tuesday July 13, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

IEN - Webinar

Thematic Track Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Solutions Providers, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Faculty

4:00pm EDT

Pursuit Orientation

Wednesday October 6, 2021 4:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Zoom

Demonstration

9:30am EDT

Coffee Hours and Networking - Climate Justice

This informal space is an opportunity for peers looking to accelerate DEIJ-centered climate action in higher education institutions to connect with one another, self-reflect, discuss common challenges, and identify opportunities for future collaboration and the development of value-added tools/resources.

Thursday October 7, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Neutrality, Community, Racial Justice

9:30am EDT

Coffee Hours and Networking - Shaping Second Nature's Climate Strategy

Help inform Second Nature's new strategy! Join Tim Carter, president of Second Nature, for a brainstorming session about the sector's biggest challenges and opportunities for climate leadership

Thursday October 7, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

11:00am EDT

Climate, Health, and Justice: Intersectionality in the Built Environment

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Speakers

Mark Chambers

Senior Director for Building Emissions & Community Resilience, Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President

Mark Chambers is the Senior Director for Building Emissions and Community Resilience at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Chambers leads the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate policy development for the built environment as part of a whole of government approach... Read More →

Rachel Hodgdon

President & CEO, International WELL Building Institute

Rachel joined the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) in November 2016, bringing her broad sustainability expertise and her track record as a leading global advocate for green schools, movement building and social equity to IWBI’s work to advance human health through better... Read More →

Thursday October 7, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Zoom

Keynote

1:00pm EDT

Climate Smart Endowment Investing

Endowments represent a powerful - and often overlooked - lever for positive change on equitable climate solutions. Addressing climate risk in portfolios is also critical for being a prudent fiduciary and protecting endowment capital. This session will explore the range of steps endowments can take, from fossil fuel divestment, to investing in climate solutions, and making the commitment to Net Zero Portfolios. It will emphasize the intersectionality of climate and DEI and racial justice. Panelists will share insights on key initiatives, such as the Net Zero Banking Alliance and the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, and explain how asset managers can engage with companies on behalf of endowment clients to drive real-world emissions reductions at scale.

Moderators

Kelly Green

Institutional Consultant, Graystone Consulting

Speakers

Audrey Choi

Chief Sustainability Officer, Morgan Stanley

Valerie Rockefeller

Chair of the Board, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Erika Murphy

Managing Director and Investment Director, Climate Platform, Wellington Management

Thursday October 7, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

1:00pm EDT

IU's Resilience Cohorts and Climate Fellows

In this session, we will hear from IU about their Resilience Cohort initiative which connects Indiana’s city, town, and county governments through the process of measuring, managing, and tracking their greenhouse gas emissions. IU will provide an overview of their work with resilience training and knowledge sharing in the state of Indiana and also about the student engagement component of their Resilience Cohort program

Speakers

Danni Schaust

ISDP Program Manager, Indiana University

Danni Schaust has 10 years of program management and outreach experience, overseeing the growth and development of the McKinney Climate Fellows program since 2017. As the McKinney Climate Fellows Program Manager, Schaust is responsible for student recruitment on all IU campuses as... Read More →

Steven Chybowski

Resilience Cohort Coordinator, Indiana University

Chybowski supports the ERI Resilience Cohort, providing guidance on climate mitigation and adaptation solutions to local governments. He coordinates with partner organizations to ensure that local government officials have the resources they need for successful project implementa... Read More →

Thursday October 7, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Student Leadership

1:00pm EDT

Meeting Major Reductions Goals with the Help of Second Nature's Solution Partners

Hear from campus recipients of Second Nature's Pro Bono consulting opportunity about how CustomerFirst Renewables and Brailsford & Dunlavey helped campuses understand and communicate the financial and carbon impacts of key projects.

Speakers

Chris O'Brien

Director of Business Development, CustomerFirst Renewables

Dave Karlsgodt

Director, Brailsford & Dunleavy

Amy Dvorak

Sustainability Director, Lewis & Clark

Amy Dvorak is the Director of Sustainability at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where she works to integrate sustainability across the institution through developing cross-school collaborations, broadening relationships with the community, promoting hands-on student learning... Read More →

Thursday October 7, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

2:30pm EDT

Carbon Neutrality Claims - Community Conversation

With the urgency to decarbonize as soon as possible, more claims of meeting carbon neutrality will increase. The Climate Leadership Network has had 10 signatories meet their carbon neutral goals. However, there is a current robust discussion regarding how claims are made and what should be included when sharing the accomplishment. As campuses continue to navigate goal-setting, metric-tracking, and strategy development to decarbonize, it's important that claims of carbon neutrality are transparent both for individual campuses and as a network of campuses. This session will keep the conversation going and will be split into two 45 minutes segments. It will begin with three presentations from sectors outside of higher education that will share how they have approached communicating and supporting carbon reduction goals. The presentations will be followed by 45 minutes of breakout, facilitated discussion focused on three topic areas:
1. Claiming Neutrality – What are scoping, science-based targets, observed reductions, offsetting, and verified considerations or requirements for a carbon neutral claim in higher education?
2. Market Based Instruments – What experiences have campuses had in setting offset policies, conducting procurements, and defining a “quality” offset and RECs.
3. Shared Emissions Obligations – How are Scope 3 emissions unique to higher education and what are appropriate approaches to track, reduce and offset these activities?

Moderators

Aaron Durbaugh

Aurora Sharrard

Speakers

Liz Minne

Global Sustainability Director, Interface

Liz is the Global Sustainability Director at Interface, a flooring company that has been working to eliminate its’ negative impact on the environment since 1994. In her role, Liz directs the Carbon Neutral Floors program, which ensures that all flooring sold by Interface does not... Read More →

Carolyn Bacchus

Vice President, Client Solutions, Natural Capital Partners

Carolyn Bacchus, Vice President, Client Solutions at Natural Capital Partners, works with organizations to develop and execute their climate and emission reduction goals. She assists companies in navigating the voluntary carbon and renewable energy markets as well as the evolving... Read More →

Brad Liljequist

McKinstry, Senior Program Manager, Zero Energy + Carbon

Brad Liljequist is the Zero Energy + Carbon Senior Program Manager for McKinstry, where he leads thecompany’s zero energy and carbon efforts nationally. He is managing the zero energy and carbonelements for the Catalyst project and many other zero energy/carbon projects for McKinstry... Read More →

Thursday October 7, 2021 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Neutrality

3:00pm EDT

Climate Justice in Action: Developing the City of Oakland's Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP)

This workshop will walk participants through key steps and strategies used in the development of the City of Oakland's 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP).

Moderators

Chantal Madray

Speakers

Marybelle Tobias

Founder and Principal, Environmental Justice Solutions

Colin Miller

Senior Associate, Environmental / Justice Solutions

Colin is a Senior Associate at Environmental / Justice Solutions and has over a decade of experience as a community organizer, coalition builder, and convener. His skills include community outreach and mobilization, real-time interpretation, and meeting facilitation. He is currently... Read More →

Thursday October 7, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Neutrality, Community, Racial Justice

3:00pm EDT

Moving Our Money for Climate Justice

In this session, you’ll hear lightning round presentations from peers on what you can do to move personal and institutional assets for climate justice. Thought leaders will share ways in which we can engage companies to direct them towards more sustainable practices and why these actions are essential for university stakeholders to consider in their climate action plan. After hearing about different strategies for mobilizing institutional and individual assets, you’ll have an opportunity to engage in a smaller, peer-to-peer conversation with the speaker on the topic of your choice. Topics of this session include:
Topic 1: Enhancing Shareholder Value and Investment Returns: Applications of the As You Vote Proxy Voting Service | As You Sow and Warren Wilson College,
Topic 2: Your Climate, Your Money & Your Bank: How to Align Your Banking Choices with your Climate Values | BankFWD , Topic 3: How to Advocate for ESG in Your Retirement Plan | PRM

Moderators

Gwladys Ngatchou

Comm and Administration Associate, IEN

Speakers

Andrew Behar

Chief Executive Officer, As You Sow

Ben Linthicum

Sustainability & ESG Analyst, HXE Partners

Kwan-Yin Graw

Associate Director, BankFwd

Michael Rhim

Principal, PRM Consulting

Thursday October 7, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Zoom

Workshop

Thematic Track Knowledge
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Investors & Endowment Stakeholders, Sustainability Staff, Trustees & Investment Committees

4:15pm EDT

Federal Research Priorities for Equitable Climate Solutions

Join us to learn about the current and future role of the National Science Foundation in supporting climate solution research including emerging models for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary programs, how NSF is supporting the Justice40 Initiative, including ways that all types of institutions can participate in the research enterprise, and how senior leadership in higher education can support and advocate for emerging climate solution priorities.

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Speakers

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Thursday October 7, 2021 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Zoom

Keynote

Thematic Track Knowledge

5:00pm EDT

End of Day Reflection and Happy Hour

Grab a beverage of your choice and join us for an open space for reflecting on the day’s sessions, connecting with a cross-section of Climate Action Pursuit participants, and preparing for Day 2 of this milestone.

Thursday October 7, 2021 5:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

9:30am EDT

Host Institution Meeting Space

Friday October 8, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

11:00am EDT

Community Resilience Building Training Workshop

The need for academic institutions to build community resilience and adapt to extreme weather is now strikingly evident. Ongoing events continuously reinforce this urgency and compel leading communities to proactively plan and act. In response to this ever-increasing need and urgency, the Community Resilience Building (CRB) (www.CommunityResilienceBuilding.org) process was created. The CRB is a unique, “anywhere at any scale”, community-drive process, rich with information, experience, and dialogue to inclusively improve resilience to all natural hazards and climate change. To date over 425 communities across 9 states have benefited from CRB by developing community-generated and tailored resilience action plans. Amongst the communities that have benefited from CRB are academic institutions such as Tufts University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and California State University – Long Beach – via workshops provided through a partnership between Second Nature and The Nature Conservancy. These institutions represent a wide range of diversity from private to public and large too smaller. Due to the flexibility and structure of the CRB process it can be easily integrated into ongoing and initial climate adaptation, sustainability, and equity building efforts and also help institutions achieve their Second Nature Climate Commitment. This interactive session will cover the overall objectives, process, and outcomes of the CRB process along with specific examples from campuses in hopes of creating greater awareness and opportunity of an important and growing need amongst academic institutions across the United States and beyond.

Speakers

Adam Wehlchel

Chantal Madray

Friday October 8, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community

11:00am EDT

Invite Only - Campus Energy Transition Group

This invitation only session works to establish a community of practice and learning for campuses considering, planning, undertaking, and completing campus energy transition projects.
Areas of focus include: Financing and Implementation, Facilities management skeptical about LTHW, Preparing buildings for the transition to LTHW, Making the business case, and incorporating JEDI principles into project and contract decision making.

Moderators

Steve Muzzy

Climate Programs Senior Manager, Second Nature

Friday October 8, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality

11:00am EDT

Shifting Power Dynamics to Center Grassroots Movements in Decision Making

During our June milestone, workshop speaker Dr. Davarian Baldwin called on us to reimagine campuses as community spaces to serve all community members, in response to the increasingly parasitic relationship between universities and local communities as a result of unchecked institutional power. To do so, each of us working in higher education will need to look beyond our campus gates to listen, engage, and give power to grassroots and community voices in the decisions that impact their lives. Taking examples from different investment contexts, this panel will present approaches to decision-making that shift power dynamics that work for communities. It will cover different relationship models between community leaders and institutions (like investors) and examples where investor activity has been aligned with movement leaders, such as grassroots campaigns to influence investments, shared decision making in place-based investments, and coordination with movements within investor-led actions. Please join us for a conversation about how power dynamics in decision making can be shifted whether you are making an investment decision or coming up with a plan to reduce carbon emissions.

Speakers

Andrea Armeni

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Transform Finance

Andrea Armeni is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Transform Finance, a non-profit think-tank tackling the intersection of finance, social change, and social justice. Transform Finance works with both investors and activists that view the world of finance as a worthwhile arena... Read More →

Ariel Brooks

Director of Capacity and Operations, Center for Economic Democracy

Dana K. Bezerra

President, Heron Foundation

Friday October 8, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice

11:00am EDT

Presidential Pursuit Cohort - October Milestone Meeting

This invitation only session will continue to focus on how a “Whole-of-Higher-Ed” approach to climate action is really the way we can contribute most effectively as a sector. We will break out into groups according to four emerging initiatives synthesized from the first two Pursuits.

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Speakers

Sue Biniaz

Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of State

Sue Biniaz is back at the State Department working for Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. For more than 25 years, Ms. Biniaz served as the lead climate lawyer for the U.S.G. In that capacity, she played a central role in all major international climate negotiations... Read More →

Nate Hultman

Senior Advisor, Office of the Special Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of State

Nate Hultman is the Founder and Director of the University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability, and Professor in the School of Public Policy. He is currently on leave, serving as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate at the U.S. Department... Read More →

Christina Kwauk

Non-Resident Fellow, Brookings

Christina Kwauk is a social scientist and policy analyst with expertise in girls’ education, 21st century skills and youth empowerment, sport for development, and the intersections of gender, education, and climate change. Christina is co-editor of Curriculum and Learning for Climate... Read More →

Courtney Greisel

Economic Development Director, City of Springfield, Oregon

Courtney Griesel has been with the City of Springfield Oregon since 2006, leading critical economic and community development programs and projects. Author of the City of Springfield Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and contributing author of the Glenwood Refinement Plan, she brings extensive... Read More →

Liqian Ma

Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing Research, Cambridge Associates

April Burrage

Economics PhD Student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

April Burrage is an Economics PhD student at University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMASS). Her research interest lies at the intersection of the economics of innovation and inequality. Her dissertation will investigate racial and gender differences in employment and entrepreneurship... Read More →

Anna Goldstein

Executive Director of the Energy Transition Institute and a Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Anna Goldstein is the Executive Director of the Energy Transition Institute and a Senior Research Fellow at UMass Amherst. Her research specialty is policy and management of energy technology innovation. Anna was previously a postdoc at the Carnegie Institution for Science and at... Read More →

Friday October 8, 2021 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Zoom

President & Trustee Cohort

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice

2:00pm EDT

Keynote: The Truth About the Roots of the Climate Crisis and the Path Forward

This keynote panel conversation led by Gopal Dayaneni will bring key climate justice leaders together to reflect on how higher education has responded to the climate crisis and why these responses and the crafting of solutions need to be in partnership with grassroots and frontline communities. They illustrate that the problem and the solution lie beyond our focus on carbon emissions and are intertwined with our legacies of colonialism and environmental racism. It’s not just about doing something about climate change but how and what we do that matters. The panel will offer a people and justice centered framework to help us articulate the solutions we need to address climate change.

Speakers

Gopal Dayaneni

Co-Founder, Movement Generation: Justice and Ecology Project

Angela Mooney D’Arcy

Executive Director & Founder, Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples

Hop Hopkins

Climate Justice Fellow, Urban Sustainability at Antioch University, Los Angeles

Kandi White

Native Energy & Climate Campaign Coordinator, Leadership Team, Indigenous Environmental Network

Friday October 8, 2021 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Zoom

Keynote

3:45pm EDT

End-of-Day Milestone Reflection and Happy Hour

Unwind with us at the conclusion of the 3rd milestone of the Pursuit. We invite you to join us for a signature event cocktail "Autumn Sour" coupled with the end of day discussion. We're pleased to partner with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey who will show us how to prepare a signature cocktail to be followed by a brief history of Uncle Nearest and how they have centered impact investing in their business model. For those that are not indulging in spirits, we also have a signature "Mocktail" for you to enjoy while reflecting on the day.

Speakers

George Dyer

Julia Parker

Managing Director, IEN

Friday October 8, 2021 3:45pm - 4:30pm EDT
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

12:30pm EST

COP26 Recap & Reflections for the Higher Education Sector

It can be said that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), may have been the most anticipated and unique COP to date. Not only did it occur during a global pandemic, but also with the direction climate change is currently going, there is an urgency now more than ever to do something before it’s too late. Coinciding with all of this, what was it like to be in-person at COP26? What was the importance of the higher education sector’s presence and role, if any, at COP26? Join us for this roundtable discussion with climate champions from the higher education space who attended COP26, to hear about their own experiences, higher education’s presence at COP26, and their takeaways.

Moderators

Amanda Belles

Communications, Marketing & Policy Manager, Second Nature

Speakers

Michelle Wyman

Executive Director, Global Council for Science and the Environment

Noa Dalzell

Climate Policy Associate, Second Nature

Aaron Durnbaugh

Director of Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago

Felicia Davis

Co-founder, HBCU Green Fund; Coordinator, Sustainability at Clark Atlanta University

Thursday December 9, 2021 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

1:45pm EST

Lightning Round: Campus Highlights from the Climate Action Pursuit

This hour-long session will be a showcase of ambitious climate goals and achievements that occurred on campuses during 2021. Each presenter will share, in 5 minutes, what they are most proud of and how other participants can take action as well. Experts will also share contact information or options to schedule 1-1 or small group meetings after the milestone, since there will not be an opportunity in this session to take questions or have discussions.

Moderators

Michele Madia

Senior Director of Programs and Communications, Second Nature

Speakers

Brooke Suter

Principal, Sustainable Leadership to Thrive

Supporting personal resilience in concert with action empowerment to holistically address the climate crisis: As a state or national director for 20 years, Ms. Suter worked in 50 states and federally to build diverse coalitions, empower activists and lead adoption of nationally precedent-setting... Read More →

John Willis Gardner

Policy & Planning Analyst, Office of Sustainability, University of Milwaukee Wisconsin

John Gardner has served as the Office of Sustainability's Policy & Planning Analyst at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee since 2015, managing sustainability-related data reporting and coordinating UWM’s climate action planning. John develops UWM’s STARS submissions and annual sustainabi... Read More →

Cindy Klein-Banai

Asst Vice-Chancellor & Director of Sustainability, University of Illinois at Chicago

I founded the UIC Office of Sustainability 13 years ago. My team provides institutional value in supporting sustainability planning, projects, and reporting, while enhancing UIC’s mission of student success, improving public health, and serving the communities of Chicago. The Sustainability... Read More →

Geri Melchiorre

Senior Director of Investments, University of Illinois System

Amy Dvorak

Sustainability Director, Lewis & Clark

Elizabeth Malcolm

Professor and Director of Sustainability, Virginia Wesleyan Univeristy

Elizabeth Malcolm is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Director of Sustainability at Virginia Wesleyan University. She received her B.A. in Environmental Science from Earlham College and her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University... Read More →

Martha Larson

Manager of Campus Energy and Sustainability, Carleton College

Martha Larson graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. She began her career as an acoustical consultant for Kirkegaard and Associates in Chicago, advising on architectural acoustics and noise control issues for performing arts projects. In 2004... Read More →

Shane Tedder

Sustainability Coordinator, University of Kentucky

Thursday December 9, 2021 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality, Community, Racial Justice, Student Leadership, Knowledge

3:00pm EST

Lessons Learned in Justice, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion-Centered Climate Resilience Planning

An update on the University of California's Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-Centered Campus Climate Resilience Planning project that launched in 2021. The Panel will reflect on UC's work over the past year, share lessons learned, best practices, a few key findings in their (draft) system-wide report, and answer questions.

Moderators

Chantal Madray

Speakers

Janika McFeely

Associate Principal, Sr Sustainability Consultant, Integral Group

Nurit Katz

Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA Sustainability

Marybelle Tobias

Founder and Principal, Environmental Justice Solutions

Ryan Bell

Associate Director of Sustainability, University of California, Office of the President

Thursday December 9, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice

3:00pm EST

Project Drawdown & Endowment Investing

As more asset managers offer ESG products to endowments, there is a growing risk of greenwashing - or funds that change little in terms of their holdings or how they engage with companies, but simply reframe their existing funds as ESG or sustainable. Transparency and disclosure is a great way to counter greenwashing. Yet, knowing which metrics to use and accessing high quality data can be challenging. As more endowments pursue Net Zero Portfolios, measuring the portfolio’s carbon footprint is a valuable step, but has limitations. This session will explore a new approach to using the Project Drawdown framework as a guide for evaluating how investments contribute to reducing global warming. Participants will hear from Project Drawdown on the most important global warming solutions their research has identified, and from Stewart Investors on how they have mapped their portfolio companies to the Drawdown framework, and can report on those outcomes via an interactive world map.

Speakers

Tamara Larsen

Executive Director, Mission-Aligned Investing, Agility

Pablo Berrutti

Senior Investment Specialist, Stewart Investors

Pablo is a Senior Investment Specialist with the Sustainable Funds Group at Stewart Investors. Previously, Pablo was Head of Responsible Investment Asia Pacific at Colonial First State Global Asset Management (now First Sentier Investors). He is the founder of Altiorem, a not-for-profit... Read More →

Mamta Mehra

Senior Fellow, Land Use & Research Program Officer, Project Drawdown

Thursday December 9, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

Thematic Track Neutrality

4:30pm EST

End of Day Reflection

Open space for reflecting on the day’s sessions, connecting with a cross-section of Climate Action Pursuit participants, and preparing for Day 2 of this milestone.

Speakers

Michele Madia

Senior Director of Programs and Communications, Second Nature

Steve Muzzy

Climate Programs Senior Manager, Second Nature

Rachel Valletta

Senior Manager, Climate Programs, Second Nature

Rachel serves as the Senior Manager of Climate Programs with Second Nature. In this deeply collaborative role, Rachel manages the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) and supports intersectional climate action initiatives focused on resilience planning, cross-sector climate action... Read More →

Julia Parker

Managing Director, IEN

Thursday December 9, 2021 4:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

11:30am EST

Campus Energy Transition Working Group (Invite Only)

Friday December 10, 2021 11:30am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Neutrality

11:30am EST

The Acceleration Fund: Accelerating Climate Action Planning From Campus to Community

In spring 2020, Second Nature launched the first round of the Acceleration Fund, an effort to support innovative cross-sector climate action activities driven by colleges and universities. This panel discussion will unite colleagues from across the U.S. who leveraged their Fund to accelerate climate action and resilience planning and look back on progress made since. Join us to explore best practices in advancing this work in diverse college and university contexts, including models for student engagement and effective techniques to engage community partners.

Moderators

Rachel Valletta

Senior Manager, Climate Programs, Second Nature

Speakers

Neha Gupta

Susan Kidd

Executive Director of Sustainability, Agnes Scott College

John Pumilio

Director of Sustainability, Colgate University

Friday December 10, 2021 11:30am - 12:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

Thematic Track Community, Racial Justice
Audience (Scroll to see all) DEI and Community Engagement Staff, Faculty, Higher Ed Presidents/Chancellors, Students, Sustainability Staff, Solutions Providers

1:00pm EST

Lightning Round: Climate Action Pursuit Outcomes

This 60 minute session will be ted-type quick talks to showcase campus achievements in the past year as a result of the Climate Action Pursuit. Each presenter will share, in 10 minutes, what progress they have made through the Pursuit and how other participants can take action as well. Experts will also share contact information or options to connect after the session, since there will not be an opportunity in this session to take questions or have discussions.

Topic 1: Mobilizing institutional assets to invest in diversity, equity and inclusion
Topic 2: Planning to achieve carbon neutrality and integrating the energy transition into the educational experience of the campus
Topic 3: Committing to net zero portfolios and launching a campus-wide academic curricular program focused on the intersection of climate change and racial justice
Topic 4: “Inside the Presidential cohort” of the Climate Action Pursuit - perspective from a president

Moderators

Kaede Kawauchi

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Intentional Endowments Network

Speakers

Susanna Gibbons

Managing Director, David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

Jeff Jackanicz

Vice President of University Advancement, San Francisco State University

Angela Gregory

Sustainability Science Masters Candidate & Campus-as-living-lab Coordinator, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Ezra Small

Campus Sustainability Manager, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Suzanne Walsh

President, Bennett College

Friday December 10, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

Panel/Roundtable

2:30pm EST

End of Pursuit Highlights and Reflection

Moderators

Tim Carter

President, Second Nature

Georges Dyer

Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network --- thank you all for joining us for the Pursuit!

Speakers

Mark Mitsui

President, Portland Community College

Mark Mitsui became President of Portland Community College in August of 2016. He is the first Asian American president in the 60-year history of PCC, which educates over 60,000 students annually and is the largest higher education institution in the state of Oregon.He was selected... Read More →

Dianne Dillon-Ridgley

Board Member, Crane Institute of Sustainability

Garrett Ashley

Senior Advisor to the President, California State University, Fullerton

Friday December 10, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Zoom

Peer to Peer Conversation

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