CELEBRATING RESILIENCE

Looking to the Past to Plan for the Future

Bringing together community leaders and groups working to celebrate and strengthen Vermont’s resilience.

Norwich University | Friday, May 20, 2022

A conference for Vermonters seeking to engage with each other, their communities, and the state at large through meaningful and interdisciplinary discussions and problem-solving. Join us for this one-day event as we look to the past to plan for our future.

REGISTER NOW

FEATURED SPEAKERS

We invite you to learn about our featured conference speakers.

SCHEDULE

8 – 8:30 a.m. | Mack Hall Auditorium
CONFERENCE CHECK-IN and BREAKFAST

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. | Mack Hall Auditorium
WELCOME REMARKS

Dr. Karen F. Gaines 
Provost and Dean of the Faculty
Norwich University

8:40 – 8:55 a.m. | Mack Hall Auditorium

Vermont on the Global Stage

Patricia Preston
President and CEO, Vermont Council on World Affairs 

9 – 9:50 a.m. | Mack Hall Auditorium
PLENARY SESSION

Looking closely at Vermont’s Climate Action Plan

• Moderator: Tara Kulkarni, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Center of Global Resilience & Security, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Alyssa Brink, ’23, Norwich University Honors Program

Panelists: 

• Chris Campany, Executive Director, Windham Regional Commission 
• Jared Duval, Executive Director, Energy Action Network
• Julie Moore, Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
• Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Vermont State Senator

10 – 11:15 a.m. | Mack Hall, Rooms TBA
CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Session 1: Food & Water Track
Food Service and Food Security in Challenging Times
Mack Hall 005

• Moderator: Nicole DiDomenico, Director, Norwich University Center for Civic Engagement
• Co-Moderator: Lydia Brown, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security
• Co-Moderator: Camryn Vela, ’25 Norwich University Honors Program

Panelists:

• Sarah Heusner, Food Education and Programs Manager, Burlington School Food Project
• Cassie Morse, Market Manager, Northfield Farmers Market
• John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank

Session 2: Climate & Energy Track
Renewable, Storage, and Other Innovations in the Electric Sector
Mack Hall 205

• Moderator: Dr. Steven Fitzhugh, Professor (Retired), Electrical and Computer Engineering, Norwich University.
• Co-Moderator: Alyssa Brink, ’23, Norwich University Honors Program
• Co-Moderator: Valeria Reyes Maldonado, ’25, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security

Panelists:

• Chad Farrell, Founder and CEO, Encore Renewable Energy
• Elizabeth Miller, Vice President of Sustainable Supply and Resilient Systems and Chief Legal Counsel, Green Mountain Power
• Dan Nelson, Vice President of Technology, Vermont Electric Power Co.

Session 3: Human & Resilience Track
Refugee Resettlement & Migrant Education

• Moderator: Kaitlin E. Thomas, Assistant Professor, Spanish, Associate Director Center of Global Resilience & Security, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Rodion Pedyuk, ’25, Norwich University Honors Program and Civic Scholar for the Norwich University Center for Civic Engagement

Panelists:

• Dr. Pablo Bose, Associate Professor, Geography Department, University of Vermont
• Drukhshan Farhad, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Humanities Initiative
• Matt Flaherty, Migrant Education Specialist, Maine Migrant Education Program

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Mack Hall, Rooms TBA
CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Session 1: Food & Water Track
Cultural and Ecological Restoration of Our Rivers
Mack Hall 005

• Moderator: Caroline Massa, State Hazard Mitigation Planner, Vermont Emergency Management
• Co-Moderator: Lydia Brown, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security
• Co-Moderator: Camryn Vela, ’25, Norwich University Honors Program

Panelists:

• Michele Braun, Executive Director, Friends of the Winooski River
• Steven Libby, Executive Director, Vermont River Conservancy
• Rich Holschuh, Independent Historic and Cultural Researcher, Elnu Abenaki

Session 2: Energy & Climate Track
Thermal & Transportation
Mack Hall 205

• Moderator: Sarah Wolfe, Chair, Northfield Energy Committee 
• Co-Moderator: Alyssa Brink, ’23, Norwich University Honors Program
• Co-Moderator: Valeria Reyes Maldonado, ’25, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security

Panelists:

• Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Director, Consulting, Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
• Maura Collins, Executive Director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency 
• Michael Cross, Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering 
• Neale Lunderville, President & CEO of VGS (Vermont Gas) 

Session 3: Human & Resilience Track
Community Storytelling
Mack Hall 305

• Moderator: Dr. Amy Woodbury Tease, Associate Professor of English and Chair of the Department of Global Humanities, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Drukhshan Farhad, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Humanities Initiative
• Co-Moderator: Rodion Pedyuk, ’25, Norwich University Honors Program and Civic Scholar for the Norwich University Center for Civic Engagement

Panelists:

• Julia Doucet, RN, Outreach Nurse and Nurse Case Manager, Open Door Clinic
• Marek Bennett, Teaching Artist
• Dr. Andy Kolovos, Associate Director and Archivist, Vermont Folklife Center

12:50 – 2:20 p.m. 
LUNCH BREAK
Plumley Armory

2:30 – 4 p.m. | Mack Hall Auditorium
INTERACTIVE KEYNOTE DISCUSSION
Offers and Needs Market

• Moderator: Karen Hinkle, Associate Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Drukhshan Farhad, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Humanities Initiative
• Facilitator: Lynn Benander, Community Entrepreneur, Cooperative Developer, Co-Founder and Manager, People’s Solar Energy Fund

4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Mack Hall, Rooms TBA
CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Workshop 1 
Land Planning with a Focus on Ecological Regeneration and Food Production
Mack Hall 005

• Moderator: Simon Pearish, Associate Professor of Biology, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Valeria Reyes Maldonado, ’25, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience & Security
• Workshop Facilitator: Ben Falk, Owner and Land Planner, Whole Systems Design

Workshop 2
Workforce Development in the Climate and Energy Sectors
Mack Hall 205

• Moderator: Karen Hinkle, Associate Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Alyssa Brink, ’23, Norwich University Honors Program
• Workshop Facilitator: Cara Robechek, Deputy Director & Network Manager, Energy Action Network

Workshop 3 
Resilient Bodies
Mack Hall 305

• Moderator: Julia Bernard, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Lydia Brown, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Center for Global Security & Resilience
• Co-Moderator: Rodion Pedyuk, ’25, Norwich University Honors Program and Civic Scholar for Norwich University’s Center for Civic Engagement

Workshop Facilitators:

• Dan Bornstein, Founding Principal, DBornsteinSolutions LLC
• Rachele Pojednic, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Exercise Science, Norwich University
• Amy Welch, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance, Norwich University

Workshop 4
Creative Expression through Comic Booking
Mack Hall 306

• Moderator: Kaitlin Thomas, Assistant Professor, Spanish, Associate Director Center of Global Resilience & Security, Norwich University
• Co-Moderator: Drukhshan Farhad, ’23, Student Fellow for the Norwich University Humanities Initiative
• Co-Moderator: Camryn Vela, ’25, Norwich University Honors Program
• Workshop Facilitator: Marek Bennett, Teaching Artist

NOMINATE A RESILIENT HERO!

Open to any person or organization who has demonstrated resilience in their work and community. Self-nominations are welcome. Winners will be announced at the conference and earn monetary awards to continue building Vermont’s resilience, thanks to our generous sponsors.

(Select image for PDF of poster.)

Nomination Deadline
May 1, 2022

NOMINATION FORM

SPONSOR RESILIENT VERMONT

Join us as a sponsor and support Resilient Vermont, while showcasing your work and organization.

CONTACT

Megan Liptak
Assistant Director, Norwich University Research Centers
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This event is brought to you by the Resilient Vermont Network coordinated by the Norwich University Center for Global Resilience and Security with funding by the High Meadows Fund (Vermont Community Foundation).

PAST CONFERENCES