2019Annual Meeting Speakers
Jennifer Daryl Slack
Jennifer Daryl Slack is Distinguished Professor of Communication and Cultural Studies in the Department of Humanities and Founding Director of the newly established Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) at Michigan Technological University. Her research focuses on Cultural Studies, Culture and Technology, Culture and Environment, and Creativity and Color. Among her many publications, she is co-author of the widely used book Culture and Technology: A Primer (2015), now in its second edition.
In her role of Director of IPEC, Jennifer is working to develop the university’s research, teaching, and policy missions to insure that they respond responsibly and proactively to the ethical and culturally sensitive issues emerging in the massive technological and environmental changes we are currently experiencing.
Jennifer is also a pastel artist and has integrated her work as a theorist and painter in an effort to promote cultural change. She participated in the art and science project, Paradise Lost, which many Wisconsin’s Green Fire members are familiar with. Her most recent art/culture project is “What Makes a Wall.” This body of work has been presented to both community, academic, and international audiences.
Jonathan Gilbert
Jonathan Gilbert is the Biological Services Director for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC). He directs the activities for the BSD that includes 16 professional biologists/scientists and 9 technicians/assistants. He has also served as the Wildlife Section Leader for GLIFWC, and has been the primary staff expert on deer, bears and furbearer ecology. He supervised wild rice, forestry and invasive species programs. Jonathan was with the US Peace Corps in the Fiji Islands and in the Ivory Coast West Africa. Jonathan has a BA in Biology from Washington and Jefferson College, MS in Fish and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University and a PhD in Wildlife Ecology from UW-Madison. Jonathan enjoys dog sledding, gardening, and his apple orchard.
Jodi Habush Sinykin
Jodi Habush Sinykin, University of Michigan, Harvard Law, Of Counsel, Midwest Environmental Advocates, UWM School of Freshwater Sciences. Jodi has concentrated her environmental law practice on water and wildlife matters. As a water policy expert retained by Midwest Environmental Advocates, Jodi has served on a variety of high-profile state advisory committees and was closely involved in the strategic development, legislative drafting and enactment of the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact in Wisconsin, along with other environmental legislation and administrative rules pertaining to groundwater protection, sustainable water resources, and Great Lakes conservation. Jodi also worked in close collaboration with state humane societies and legislators, as a retained lobbyist, to enact Wisconsin Act 90, the “Puppy Mill Bill” passed in December of 2009 to regulate Wisconsin breeding facilities and target sub-standard conditions. In 2011, Jodi filed suit against the Wisconsin DNR and Natural Resources Board on behalf of the Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies, conservation organizations, hunters and farmers for violations of state law arising out of Wisconsin’s Wolf Hunt, specifically the approved use of dogs to hunt wolves. Jodi continues to work with a collaboration of environmental organizations, wildlife advocates, state park activists, scientists and conservationists to advance science-based, ethical wildlife policies in keeping with Public Trust principles.
Scott Walter
Dr. Scott Walter is a Wisconsin native, and developed a life-long interest in wildlife through a youth spent fishing, hunting, birdwatching, and hiking. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology from Beloit College, and MS and PhD degrees in Wildlife Ecology from UW-Madison. Scott has been involved in wildlife research and management in the state since 1999, and currently serves as the Large Carnivore Specialist for the Wisconsin DNR, where he helps coordinate management approaches for black bears and wolves. He lives on his 7-generation family farm in Richland County with his wife, Erica, and their 5 children.
Adrian Wydeven
Adrian serves as the co-chair of Wisconsin’s Green Fire’s Wildlife Work Group. Adrian retired from the WDNR in 2015 after working in the wildlife program since 1982. He served as a wildlife manager, non-game biologist, mammalian ecologist, carnivore specialist, and forest wildlife specialist. Beginning in 1990, Adrian lead the state wolf recovery program. Prior to his career at WDNR, Adrian worked in the state of Missouri. Since retiring from WDNR, Adrian has coordinated and served as the volunteer Chair of the Timber Wolf Alliance with the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute (SOEI) at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. He is interested in issues involving wolves, other carnivores and wildlife in general, as well as forest management practices. He does workshops and talks for SOEI and volunteers with WDNR for wolf, bird, and bat surveys. Adrian has a BS in Biology and Wildlife Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a MS degree in Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University at Ames.
