2026 UMRC Presenters

DAY 1 KEYNOTE SESSION

Dr. Aaron Thompson, Landscape Architect and Horticulturist, Purdue University

DAY 1 PANELISTS

Rachel Curry, Agricultural Educator, IL Extension Office
Dr. Emily Jenkins, Engineering Manager, Farnsworth Group
Kathi Jo Jankowski, Principal Investigator, USGS Mississippi LTRM Program

DAY 1 FIELD TRIP - EWOLDT FARM PROPERTY

Robb Ewoldt, Regenerative Farmer/Director, United Soybean Board

DAY 1 PLATED DINNER

Andrea Knepper, LCSW, Founder, Chicago Adventure Therapy

DAY 2 PANELISTS

Deb Anslem, Executive Director, IA Newspaper Association
Reggie McCleod, Editor and Publisher, Big River Magazine
Noah Glasgow, Journalist, North Scott Press

DAY 2 NEXT GEN SUMMIT

Audrey Tran Lam, Environmental Health Program Director, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education
Dr. Aaron Thompson, Landscape Architect and Horticulturist, Purdue University
Noah Glasgow, Journalist, North Scott Press

DAY 2 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Whitney Clark , Executive Director, Friends of the Mississippi River
Margaret Frisbe, Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River
Everett Hamner, Literature, Film, and Science Professor, Western Illinois University
Kamyar Enshayan, Former Director, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education
Jason Snyder, Project Engineer, MSA Professional Services

DAY 2 KEYNOTES

David Cwiertny, Director, University of Iowa Environmental Policy Research Center
Chris Jones, Hydroscience Research Engineer, Iowa Water Center

HOST - RIVER ACTION

Kathy Wine, Executive Director and Founder, River Action