Finding Awe in Nature: Pathways to Planetary Health Forum with Kim Nolan

Finding Awe in Nature

Kim Nolan & Stephen Posner
In Conversation

Please join us for this interactive online Forum hosted by the Pathways to Planetary Health initiative at the Garrison Institute.

Kim Nolan and Stephen Posner will explore what it means to find awe in nature and to regard nature as teacher and source. This refreshing conversation will weave together insight and experience across sectors, including passion for social justice, appreciation for the power of business, and commitment to education for the next generation of sustainability leaders.

We will hold this live Forum on Zoom at 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 24, 2024. After registering, you will receive a link to join the session. Please email us at events@garrisoninstitute.org with questions.

SPEAKERS

Kim Nolan, PhD
Director of the Sustainable MBA Program with the University of Vermont and Buddhist Chaplain

Kim is an ordained Buddhist chaplain and a lifelong advocate for social justice and human rights. She served as an appointed member of the Vermont Commission on Women and as board member on several national and local non-profit organizations. Recognized as an effective and compassionate leader, Kim facilitates training, provides coaching, and guides diverse teams through strategic vision and action planning. Kim is the Founder and Director of the Dignity Foundation, working at the intersection of cultural transformation, leadership & change management, and contemplative science. Prior to this work, Kim served as Professor and Program Director of Mindfulness Studies at Lesley University, Program Officer of the Mind and Life Institute – where she designed an Academy of Contemplative and Ethical Leadership – and Department Chair of Integral Psychology and founder of the Institute of Contemplative Studies at Burlington College in Vermont. Kim holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University and a M.Ed. from Boston University in Counseling Psychology.

Stephen Posner, PhD
Director of Pathways to Planetary Health with the Garrison Institute

Stephen is responsible for Pathways to Planetary Health at the Garrison Institute. In this role, he creates strategic partnerships that promote planetary health. Stephen’s work integrates scientific inquiry and contemplative ways of knowing across traditions to create a more compassionate and balanced world. He has over 20 years of experience building understanding across sectors and is a trusted advisor to policymakers, funders, and companies who seek to assess how they impact and depend on nature. Stephen previously worked at the University of Vermont, where he launched a new university-wide research theme on Equity, Justice, and the Environment and led the publication and release of the Vermont Climate Assessment, leading to a new U.S. Federal Center of Excellence focused on measuring climate impacts. He received a B.S. in astronomy and physics and earned a Ph.D. in natural resources and economics. A native of Baltimore, Stephen has lived in the Bay Area of California, the Hudson Valley of New York, and St. Andrews in Scotland. He now lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont.