Denise M. Keele, Ph.D. | Director, Michigan Climate Action Network

Click here to view Ellen Vial and Dr. Denise Keele's 2023 GLEF presentations.
Presentation Title: Let’s talk climate
Description:
This interactive session will explore public attitudes, utilize current state policy examples, and distill insights from the social and behavioral sciences to help us all have more effective conversations about climate change with a variety of audiences.
Speaker Bio:
Denise Keele received her doctorate in Environmental Politics from Syracuse University and was an Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 2006-2023. Her research and teaching focused on environmental policy and law, in particular the use of the courts and interest groups to influence public policy. At WMU, she chaired the interdisciplinary Climate Change Working Group from 2014-2022, bringing over one hundred faculty, students, and staff together to create and implement several academic and outreach programs. She served on the Kalamazoo Township Climate Committee, and the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability committee. As a Board of Trustee with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Keele led the development of a climate action plan with a carbon neutrality goal of 2035. From 2019-2022, she led the grassroots Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition coordinating over 2000 members and 40 affiliate organizations to take collective action and address climate change. Keele was honored with an inaugural Climate Champion award from the Michigan Climate Action Network in 2021, and now serves as the Director of the organization. With almost two decades of experience in educating others and encouraging action, Keele brings a collaborative and positive approach to addressing the climate crisis.
Denise M. Keele, Ph.D. | Director, Michigan Climate Action Network
Presentation Title: Let’s talk climate
Description:
This interactive session will explore public attitudes, utilize current state policy examples, and distill insights from the social and behavioral sciences to help us all have more effective conversations about climate change with a variety of audiences.
Speaker Bio:
Denise Keele received her doctorate in Environmental Politics from Syracuse University and was an Associate Professor of Political Science at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 2006-2023. Her research and teaching focused on environmental policy and law, in particular the use of the courts and interest groups to influence public policy. At WMU, she chaired the interdisciplinary Climate Change Working Group from 2014-2022, bringing over one hundred faculty, students, and staff together to create and implement several academic and outreach programs. She served on the Kalamazoo Township Climate Committee, and the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability committee. As a Board of Trustee with the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Keele led the development of a climate action plan with a carbon neutrality goal of 2035. From 2019-2022, she led the grassroots Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition coordinating over 2000 members and 40 affiliate organizations to take collective action and address climate change. Keele was honored with an inaugural Climate Champion award from the Michigan Climate Action Network in 2021, and now serves as the Director of the organization. With almost two decades of experience in educating others and encouraging action, Keele brings a collaborative and positive approach to addressing the climate crisis.
Denise M. Keele, Ph.D. | Director, Michigan Climate Action Network