Sessions are hosted concurrently from 12:00 to 12:50 with a 10-minute break in between so attendees can join another session from 1:00 to 1:50. Registration for sessions is not required.

Surfing the Waves of Change: A workshop to uncover practices of resilience during difficult times

        Facilitated by: Hugh O’Neill Yonit Yogev

        Purce Hall, Classroom 7

Today’s environmental professionals are facing particularly challenging workplaces due to the current political and budgetary environment. In this workshop, participants will discuss what they are facing in life or at work. We will then use guided questions and prompts and work in small groups to share coping tools and strategies. The goal is to take away some ideas and actions that will help us all aim for and reach positive outcomes, in our workplaces and lives in general, as we cope with the current challenges.

Working in the public, private, tribal or non-profit sectors in the environment: What are the differences in experience of current and former employees? How have these sectors adapted to current changes in environmental work?

        Facilitated by: Betsy Lyons, Liz Carr, & Gwendolyn Heaton

        Purce Hall, Classroom 5

Wonder what it’s like to work in different sectors of the workplace? This session is an opportunity to talk with MES alumni and other panel members about their experience working in the private sector, with local Tribes, non-profit organizations and public agencies. Panel members will briefly share their experiences which will be followed by an open Q&A session. 

Panel & Discussion: How have MES alumni career paths been influenced because of the MES experience or in spite of the MES experience?

      Facilitated by: Alexandra James

      Purce Hall, Lecture Hall 4

This session features a panel discussion and Q&A opportunity with alumni spanning the last four decades who have dedicated their career to the environmental field. Panelists range from wildlife biologists to long-range planners to CEOs of environmental education organizations to scientific researchers. We’ll hear how the MES program contributed to their careers or influenced their career pathway. We’ll also hear how their experiences have contributed to lasting impacts in the field and whether the MES program provided the skills necessary to advance such impacts.