Events and Programs
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MODERATOR - Jeanie Nelson '65 is nationally recognized for her contributions in the fields of environmental law, crime prevention, and land conservation.  After receiving her B.A. and J.D. from Vanderbilt University, she became a partner in the Nashville law firm of Gullet, Sanford, Robinson, and Martin. From there she became chief deputy attorney general for Tennessee which, in turn, led to her appointment as general counsel and counselor to the administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. In 1996, Jeanie was appointed director of the President’s Crime Prevention Council by President Bill Clinton. In 1999, Jeanie left Washington and returned to Nashville, where she co-founded The Land Trust for Tennessee, a state-wide organization committed to assisting local communities in meeting their land conservation goals. She served as president and executive director of the agency, and she oversees the management of nearly 6,000 acres in 26 counties across the state of Tennessee. Jeanie has been a trailblazer in highly competitive fields, and her rare blend of vision, skill, and commitment to making things happen has made her an outstanding example for other women. She received Harpeth Hall's Distinguished Alumna Award in 2006.

PANELIST - Kendra Abkowitz Brooks '03 joined Mayor Cooper’s Office and Metro Nashville - Davidson County in October 2021 as the city’s chief sustainability and resilience officer, working across departments and with the community on environmental, sustainability and resilience issues. Prior to her current role, she held a variety of positions at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, working on multidisciplinary environmental policy, sustainability, and strategic planning. She began her career at Vanderbilt University tackling operational and educational sustainability projects across campus and the medical center. Kendra has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and economics from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Chicago, a doctorate in environmental management and policy from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University. Kendra has lived in Nashville for 34 years. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, four kids, and dog, hiking, reading, and crossword puzzles.

PANELIST - Caroline Prince '08 is a writer and data visualization specialist whose work focuses on contextualizing and enlivening environmental science and conservation progress for a broad range of audiences. As senior writer for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Caroline produces reports, proposals, graphics, and maps for individual donors, foundations, and general audiences that cover the full range of WWF’s work, from place-based conservation to climate policy. Prior to her current role, Caroline worked with WWF’s wildlife conservation team where she orchestrated global awareness raising campaigns to curb the consumption of elephant ivory and other wildlife products using behavior change science. An avid nature lover, Caroline has loved working with colleagues and communities in Brazil, Bhutan, Indonesia, Mexico, Namibia, and the United States to sustain an array of on-the-ground projects. Prior to joining the conservation community, Caroline worked in government relations for a museum in Boston and in art publishing in London. She lives in New York City with her husband and rescue dog. 

PANELIST - Angela Park '09 is a sustainability manager supporting Lendlease’s development and investment management business units. With eight years of experience shaping the built environment to deliver positive social and environmental outcomes, she brings sustainability to the forefront during both the origination and the operations of the built environment. Angela is a mom of two under two, currently resides in Naperville, IL, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in environmental analysis and policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Boston University.