Director of Sustainability at Cleveland State University Jennifer McMillin ’01 presents Feb. 20.
Celebrating its 58th year, the Winter Institute celebrates and informs audiences on economics, business conditions and economics education.
Thursday evening St. Cloud State welcomes back Jennifer McMillin, Director of Sustainability at Cleveland State University (CSU). In her role at CSU, she facilitates green initiatives such as alternative transportation, waste and recycling, and operations on the campus.
In 2011, CSU signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, known today as the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment. The programs and initiatives McMillin works on fulfills that commitment and moves CSU closer zero emission of greenhouse gas and minimizes the campus’ contribution to climate change.
McMillin earned her degree in anthropology and Spanish with a minor in environmental studies from St. Cloud State in 2001. With over a decade of experience in the higher education sustainability sector, she has held both academic and operational sustainability roles with research focusing on strategies for engaging students in campus sustainability initiatives and methods to link teaching, research and operations.
David Easterling
David Easterling is a Supervisory Physical Scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA/NCEI) and serves as the director of the Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the U.S. National Climate Assessment.
His work with NOAA has developed and enhanced methods to improve the quality of climate data sets, guided the development of high quality climate observation networks, and analyzed climate data for evidence of climate variability and change.
Coming to St. Cloud from the University of California, Berkeley, Catherine Wolfram is program director of the National Bureau of Economic Research’s Environment and Energy Economics Program and faculty director of the E2e Project, a research organization focused on energy efficiency.
Catherine Wolfram
Wolfram’s published works focus on the economics of energy markets.
She analyzes rural electrification programs in the developing world, energy efficiency programs in the U.S., and the effects of environmental regulation on energy markets.
In a 2015 presentation at Berkeley Haas, Wolfram illustrated the possible carbon reduction made by investing in energy efficiency compared to other methods. It is the “low hanging fruit” to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, she said.
In addition to compelling and educational presentations, the conference offers a networking reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar 7:30-10 p.m. Feb. 20.
Feb. 20 events are at 912 Regency Plaza in downtown St. Cloud. Feb. 21 events are on the campus of St. Cloud State University. View the full schedule.
Conducting Thursday evening’s Economic Outlook will be:
King Banaian – Economist and Dean of the School of Public Affairs
Luke Greiner – Regional analyst for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Nimantha Manamperi – Professor of Economics at St. Cloud State
Additional events include a teacher workshop conducted by the Minnesota Council on Economic Education and the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon featuring Dr. John Mahowald of CentraCare.
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