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, Senior Engineering Manager, Farnsworth Group
Kathy Jo Jankowski, Principal Investigator, Mississippi Restoration LTRM Program
Whitney Clark , Executive Director, Friends of the Mississippi River
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
Debbie Anselm, Executive Director, IA Newspaper Association
Reggie McLeod, 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
Sarah O'Connell, Conservation Educator, Great Outdoors Foundation
Noah Glasgow, Journalist, North Scott Press
Carli J Schlabowske, Geographer, USACE
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, WIU
Kamyar Enshayan, Former Director, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education
Dan Williams, Principal Landscape Engineer, MSA Professional Services
Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director, ICON Water Trails
DAY 2 KEYNOTES
David Cwiertny, Department Chair, University of Iowa Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Professor, Dept. of Chemistry
Chris Jones, Hydroscience Research Engineer, Iowa Water Center
HOST - RIVER ACTION
Kathy Wine, Executive Director and Founder, River Action
