2026 Keynote Speakers & Presenters - BIPOC Outdoors at NMU

Lance Woods is a Detroit native, community leader, mentor, and co-founder of WeRun313, one of the largest run clubs in the world and the largest in Detroit. A graduate of Tennessee State University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in E-Business and Supply Chain Management, Lance began his career in logistics before returning to Detroit in 2014 to focus on community development, health, and wellness. He also served for five years as an educator at Cody High School in Detroit Public Schools. 

In 2019, Lance co-founded WeRun313, which quickly became a major force in Detroit’s fitness culture, engaging thousands of runners and earning national media recognition from NBC’s Today, Runner’s World, and the Detroit Free Press. As a Global ASICS ambassador and elite marathoner, Lance has completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors with an average sub-three-hour time, an achievement shared by only 932 people worldwide. His 2:44:21 performance in Berlin ranks him No. 74 on the Ted Corbitt All-Time Rankings for American-born African American male marathoners. 

Lance’s civic leadership has earned him numerous honors, including two Spirit of Detroit Awards, a Special Tribute from the State of Michigan, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, and recognition from Black Male Engagement. He also received the Self-Determination Award from the Black Legacy Advancement Coalition and, most recently, the 2025 Community Game Changer Award from the Rhonda Walker Foundation. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the Coleman A. Young Foundation, and other organizations dedicated to uplifting Detroit.

Monday, July 27

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Why I Run: The Heart Behind WeRun313

Location: Yurt 

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1319

Target Audience | Youth and those who work with youth

Tuesday, July 28

Keynote 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM 

Title: Running Toward Something: A Story of Purpose, Community, and Drive

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Jean Alicia Elster is a 2017 Kresge Fellow, award-winning author, and former attorney whose work brings family oral histories to life through powerful historical fiction. For more than forty years, she and her family have returned annually to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains and exploring the natural beauty of Little Presque Isle in Marquette—developing a deep, personal relationship with the landscapes of the Great Lakes region. Drawing from these lived experiences and family memories, Jean contributed her family’s stories to the anthology Black Summers: Growing Up in the Urban Outdoors, helping document and preserve Black experiences in nature, recreation, and outdoor belonging across generations. Her storytelling offers a powerful reminder that the outdoors has always been a place of memory, belonging, and possibility for diverse communities.

Monday, July 27

Keynote 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM 

Title: Where You're From, Who You Are: Stories of Identity, Place, and Belonging 

Location: Yurt 

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1319

Target Audience | Youth and those who work with youth

1:45 PM to 2:45 PM

Title: Bridging the Distance: My Embrace of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Writer's Craft Workshop: Writing the Wild: Craft, Nature, and the Making of Black Summers

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Lorena Aguayo-Marquez is a community-centered leader and storyteller with more than 20 years of experience advancing belonging and access. She serves as Community Impact Manager at WGVU Public Media, where she connects storytelling with meaningful community engagement. She is also the producer of Color Out Here, amplifying diverse voices in outdoor spaces and reimagining who belongs in nature. Through Latino Outdoors Grand Rapids, she creates experiences that foster connection, healing, and cultural pride.

Monday, July 27

11:15 AM to 12:15 PM

Title: Shaping Outdoor Narratives

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Andie Balenger (she/her) is an alumni of NMU (2025), where she earned a Master's degree in administration of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. She is currently a Student Success Advisor at NMU and a former crew leader for the Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Corps. Her core purpose as an outdoor recreation professional is exploring if and how we can ethically recreate on Indigenous lands. Andie's research interests are deeply informed by the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk), a framework developed by Mi'kmaw Nation elders Albert and Murdena Marshall. This approach emphasizes the importance of weaving Indigenous and Western perspectives to foster a more holistic understanding of the world. 

Monday, July 27

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Title: Walking together: "Two-Eyed Seeing" as a path toward holistic understanding in the outdoors (90 minutes)

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1313

As the founder and operator of Wintergreen Guiding, Tony Barnes is a lifelong Upper Peninsula explorer dedicated to creating safe, immersive, and memorable outdoor experiences. Drawing on a background in education, leadership, and guiding, including work in K–12 and higher education as well as serving as Head Guide at the Huron Mountain Club, he combines expert trip planning, wilderness safety, and deep local knowledge of the region's history, geology, and ecology. Passionate about sharing the untamed spirit of Marquette County, he leads thoughtfully paced adventures that emphasize storytelling, Leave No Trace principles, and meaningful connections to the natural world.

Tuesday, July 28

Title: Chocolay Bayou River Tour & Kona Private Lake Tour

Location: Chocolay Bayou River and Koana Hills Private Lake

8-person limit |  Meeting at the Marquette Welcome Center at 1:45 PM

Matt Cramer is an MBA student at Northern Michigan University, originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Introduced to the outdoors at an early age by his parents, he developed a lifelong appreciation for nature. During the past four years in Marquette, while earning his bachelor's degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management, Matt further deepened his passion for the outdoors through both academic study and personal experience.

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Trailblazers: Becoming Leaders in Outdoor Recreation with the EEC

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Dr. Hannah Douglas is a Research and Evaluation Scientist at Nyaa whose work aims to understand the processes and structures that facilitate full equity for individuals from marginalized groups across health and environmental domains. Hannah is also a part-time lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan.

Monday, July 27

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: MI DNR Adult Focus Forum (2-hour presentation)

Location: Northern Center, Penn III

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location:  Jamrich Hall 1313

12-person limit | Target Audience |  Community leaders and outdoor professionals and a gift card will be given to each participant

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Title: MI DNR Student Focus Forum (2-hour presentation)

Location: Northern Center, Penn III

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1319

12-person limit | Target Audience | College Students; 9th-12th grade; 5th-8th grade, and a gift card will be given to each participant

Michaline Dutkiewicz is the Development Director for the Big Bay Environmental Education Center, where she develops environmental education programs, outdoor recreation experiences, and community partnerships that connect people with the natural world. She holds a Master’s degree in Administration of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-Based Tourism and has spent the past eight years living and working in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As a Michigan native, Michaline is passionate about expanding access to outdoor recreation, fostering environmental stewardship, and creating inclusive experiences that encourage people of all backgrounds to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

Monday, July 27

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Trailblazers: Becoming Leaders in Outdoor Recreation with the EEC

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Dr. Tayla Shanaye Ealom (she/they) is a biculturally Black somatic decolonial Black feminist scholar, educator, coach, author, and mother. She holds a master's degree in Somatic Counseling Psychology and a doctorate in Women's Spirituality from the California Institute of Integral Studies. As the founder of Embody the Revolution, tayla provides somatically oriented therapeutic coaching, education, consulting, and mentorship for individuals and organizations. She is also the co-founder of We the Earth, a retreat center in Northern Michigan on Anishinaabe territory, and serves on the faculty of Weaving Earth and Coaching for Healing, Justice and Liberation.

Tuesday, July 28

Title: We The Earth: Creating the UP's QTBIPOC Retreat Space

Location: Yurt

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1319

Nichole Fisher, CMP, has served as Executive Director of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) since September 2023. A proud graduate of Central Michigan University (Fire Up Chips!), she leads with vision, strategy, and a deep commitment to strengthening communities through parks, recreation, advocacy, education, strategic partnerships, and health and wellness. Driven by a passion for service and collaboration, Nichole believes that everything we do matters and is committed to inspiring leaders, strengthening organizations, and creating lasting impact for communities across Michigan.

With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in association management and nonprofit organizations, Nichole has built a career focused on organizational growth, stakeholder engagement, business development, and creating meaningful community impact. Prior to joining mParks, she held executive leadership positions across association management and nonprofit organizations, leading business development, strategic partnerships, marketing, fundraising, membership engagement, conferences, and organizational growth. Her career includes serving as Executive Director of the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG), Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships for the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE), Marketing and AIM Conference Director for Habitat for Humanity Michigan, Professional Development Manager for the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, and Account Lead for the Junior League of Lansing.

Known for bringing people together, building strategic partnerships, and turning ideas into action, Nichole is a passionate advocate for parks, recreation, health, and wellness. She believes access to quality parks, public spaces, and recreational opportunities is essential to creating healthy, connected, and thriving communities.

Beyond her professional role, Nichole is a certified yoga instructor and has officiated high school and NCAA women's basketball for nearly three decades. She serves as Vice President of the Conquest Fitness Foundation, Secretary of the Capital Area Officials Association, and is a member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Stanley, practicing yoga, cooking, baking, and exploring Michigan's parks and trails.

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Building Purpose-Driven Careers in Parks, Recreation & Outdoor Spaces

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Emily Hanes is a graduate of Northern Michigan University's Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management program with a minor in Nutrition. She brings extensive hospitality experience, strong communication skills, and a passion for creating opportunities that foster meaningful connections and outdoor experiences. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, paddling, listening to music, cooking, and staying physically active. 

Monday, July 27

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Trailblazers: Becoming Leaders in Outdoor Recreation with the EEC

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Kathleen Henry is the Education Specialist for the Superior Watershed Partnership, where she coordinates community and PreK–12 education and outreach programs while supporting grant writing, reporting, and management. A certified National Geographic Educator, returned Peace Corps Uganda Volunteer, National Park Service Teacher-Ranger-Teacher participant, and NCCC AmeriCorps alum, she holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and Northern Michigan University. Kathleen is passionate about connecting Upper Peninsula communities to meaningful, hands-on environmental education through engaging and memorable learning experiences.

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Superior Watershed Partnership

Location: Lake Superior Shoreline (exact location TBD one week before conference)

Brynn Jannetta (Medicine Sky Woman) is a proud descendant of her communities, Wiikwemkoong First Nation and Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She currently serves as the Strengthening Pathways North Coordinator here at NMU. Her work has always focused on uplifting indigenous youth and intertwining culture, as well as a sense of place, in higher-education spaces. As a recent graduate in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University, Brynn is deeply passionate about advocating for inclusion of indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing in Western science.

Monday, July 27

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Title: Walking together: "Two-Eyed Seeing" as a path toward holistic understanding in the outdoors (90 minutes)

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1313

Alice Jasper is a sustainability consultant, environmental justice advocate, and community organizer dedicated to expanding access to the outdoors. Alice Jasper is the Founder of ‘Color Out Here’, a company dedicated to removing barriers to greater representation of BIPOC in outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. For almost 10 years, Alice has worked with WGVU Public Media to create multiple media projects that amplify BIPOC voices in the outdoors and now serves as host and producer for her show, “Color Out Here”(COH). Throughout their career, Alice has organized inclusive, low-barrier outdoor excursions and rest-centered retreats designed to foster connection, healing, and community. Their work reflects a deep commitment to making outdoor spaces more welcoming and accessible through both experience and storytelling.

Monday, July 27

11:15 AM to 12:15 PM

Title: Shaping Outdoor Narratives

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Emily’s connection to the U.P. began nearly 20 years ago while visiting her older sister at NMU. She moved to Marquette in 2009 to study Environmental Sustainability and Native American Studies at NMU. Like many of us, she stayed for the forests, waters, and close-knit communities. Since then, she’s built a career grounded in collaboration, conservation, and community planning. From managing programs geared towards youth, young adults and vulnerable populations at the Superior Watershed Partnership to her recent work as Marquette County’s Senior Planner, Emily brings a wealth of experience in land stewardship, climate adaptation, and regional leadership. Her commitment to partnership and place makes her a natural fit for UPLC’s mission. You can find Emily in her garden, on the trail or in the lake with her husband Nick and their kids Elton (6) and Robin (3).

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Building Purpose-Driven Careers in Parks, Recreation & Outdoor Spaces

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Dr. April Lindala is a Full Professor at Northern Michigan University and a nationally recognized Indigenous scholar, educator, writer, and poet. A member of the NMU community since 1988 and a full-time employee since 1993, she has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Center for Native American Studies, while advancing Native American Studies curriculum and Indigenous-centered assessment. Lindala earned a B.S. in Speech Communication, an M.A. and M.F.A. in English, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture from Michigan Technological University, where her research focused on decolonizing strategies in contemporary Indigenous documentary film through Indigenous Storywork and neurodecolonization. In addition to her academic leadership, she is an accomplished poet and editor whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including serving as project director and assistant editor of Voice on the Water: Great Lakes Native America Now, which also features two of her poems.

Tuesday, July 28

1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Title: Decolonizing Diet Project Workshop

Location: Love Marq Church (Fair Ave. Location) & Fire Site Pavilion (weather permitting) 

20-person limit

Meghan is in her third and final year at Northern Michigan University pursuing a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management. She served as the Head of Compost Crew at Northern for over a year, and also works for the Sustainability Hub for Innovation and Environment, where she recently competed in the NextCycle Michigan Showcase. Meghan is an Officer for the Organization for Outdoor Recreation Professionals, and if you can't find her working, she's probably outside!

Tuesday, July 28

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Title: Partridge Creek Compost - Transforming Food Scraps to Soil

Location: Partridge Creek Farm

Dr. Jacquie Medina is a Professor at Northern Michigan University. She is the Coordinator of the Outdoor Recreation Leadership & Management undergraduate degree program and teaches in the Administration of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-Based Tourism MS degree. Jacquie has been working in the outdoor industry for over 30 years, with experience teaching in higher education outdoor academic programs, leading extended wilderness trips, and facilitating outdoor and experiential education programs. Jacquie is an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide and Trainer, ANFT Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, and the Faculty Fellow in NMU Office of Opportunity, Empowerment & People. Jacquie enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets, hiking, paddling, and playing in the dirt.

Monday, July 27

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Title: Building Relationships With Games and Initiatives

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Target Audience | Youth and those who work with youth

Katy Pawlusiak is a junior at NMU pursuing a bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minor in Native American Studies. Katy is a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, has grown up in Marquette, and comes from a large family that has lived in this area for over a century. Growing up, she gardened all summer with her great-aunt Katie and has always had a deep love for caring for all living things and the Earth. Since she is serving as the current Hoop House Intern here on campus and has been gardening for years at home, she wants to share her tips and tricks for sustainable at-home and large-scale gardening, processing produce, preserving your harvest, and giving back to the community. 

Monday, July 27

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Title: Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems on Campus and at Home 

Location: NMU Hoop House & Woodland Park

Target Audience | All ages appropriate. The Hoop House garden beds are ADA accessible. Recommend closed-toed shoes and clothing that aligns with the day's weather. 

Jon Swenson provides leadership for the city's parks and recreation system, senior services, arts and culture initiatives, Lakeview Arena, beaches, and other community programs that enhance quality of life for residents and visitors. A dedicated public servant, Jon has played a key role in shaping Marquette's parks, trails, and recreation system through long-range planning, strategic investment, and community engagement. He has led the development and implementation of the City's Five-Year Recreation Master Plan, helping secure grant funding and guide improvements that expand access to parks, public spaces, and recreational opportunities.

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Building Purpose-Driven Careers in Parks, Recreation & Outdoor Spaces

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317

Nancy and her husband moved to Ishpeming, Michigan, last summer from Denver, Colorado. Together, they have created a sustainability class and moved to Ishpeming for its potential to achieve local independence from the global supply chain. Nancy took over the helm of Partridge Creek Compost for Phil Carter in February this year. She has a background in health education and was a high school science teacher for 10 years. She has experience in fundraising, sales, marketing, and education for nonprofits and is excited to work with PCC as a part of the materials management system in Marquette County as well as the overall Food System of the Upper Peninsula.

Tuesday, July 28

1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Title: Partridge Creek Compost - Transforming Food Scraps to Soil

Location: Partridge Creek Farm

Dr. Jes Thompson (MS and PhD, University of Utah, BS, Northern Michigan University) is the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Sustainability at Northern Michigan University and the Director of the Sustainability Hub for Innovation and the Environment (SHINE). She previously served as a full professor in the College of Business. She is also a trained facilitator and mediator and holds graduate certificates in Adaptive Management of Environmental Systems (University of Utah) and Sustainable Business Strategy (Harvard University). Her research is focused on communication about complex ecological issues, such as climate change, air quality, ecosystem services, resilience and adaptation. She is the chair of the Marquette Climate Adaptation Task Force and recently served on the U.S. National Park System Advisory Board and the Board of Directors for Michigan Energy Options.

Tuesday, July 28

1:00 PM to 1:30 PM

Title: Clearing the Air: The Science & Public Understanding of Unhealthy Air Quality

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall, 1st floor lobby

Pamela Valdez is a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation and has lived and worked in relationship with the Anishnaabek nations of the Upper Peninsula for over 40 years. She is a beadworker specializing in mossbags and beaded bonnets, carrying cultural teachings through her art. Pamela works in community outreach at the Marquette food co-op, where she focuses on Indigenous food education. She is a mother, partner, and community member grounded in inter-tribal relationships, resilience, and love.

Tuesday, July 28

1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Title: Decolonizing Diet Project Workshop

Location: Love Marq Church (Fair Ave. Location) & Fire Site Pavilion (weather permitting) 

20-person limit

Dr. Michael Lynn Wellman (he/him) is an educator, guide, and scholar dedicated to fostering deeper relationships with nature through rewilding, outdoor adventure, and embodied practices. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies, as well as a master's degree in Outdoor Leadership and an MBA. Michael's work explores wildness through movement, deep nature connection, and expanded states of awareness, helping individuals cultivate meaningful connections with themselves, one another, and the natural world. He is also an avid climber, skier, and lifelong explorer of wild landscapes.

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: We The Earth: Creating the UP's QTBIPOC Retreat Space

Location: Yurt

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1319

Zach Zuchowicz is the Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement Coordinator for Oakland County Parks, where he leads system-wide efforts to advance inclusive practices in programming, policy, and workplace culture. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Oakland University and also holds a Master of Public Health, a Post Master’s Certificate in Higher Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Wellness, Health Promotion, and Injury Prevention. Zach serves in leadership roles with mParks and the National Recreation and Parks Association, contributing to statewide and national DEI initiatives, inclusive recreation resources, and community engagement efforts. He is also recognized for developing collaborative outdoor programs with organizations such as Black to the Land Coalition and LGBTQ+ Outdoors, helping create accessible, welcoming experiences for diverse communities.

Monday, July 27

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Adaptive/inclusive recreation demonstration experience

Location: Waino Wahtera Pavilion 

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1320

Target Audience | College students, community leaders, and outdoor professionals

Tuesday, July 28

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Title: Building Purpose-Driven Careers in Parks, Recreation & Outdoor Spaces

Location: Fire Site Pavilion

Inclement Weather/Air Quality Location: Jamrich Hall 1317