Environmental Science & Design Research Institute Sustainability Forum
October 26th
6:15 - 8 PM, Reception 8 - 9 PM
Kiva Auditorium at the Kent State University Student Center
Risman Drive and East Summit Street, Kent, Ohio
Join us for a forum discussion with three experts whose work shapes sustainability and engagement in Northeast Ohio communities. The invited speakers (see below), will speak on their career pathway and current work and join in a conversation moderated by Kent State University professor Jennifer Mapes, Ph.D. This event will showcase how cities can collaborate to achieve their sustainability goals, how collective action can secure environmentally friendly and affordable resources, and how partnerships among governments, nonprofits, businesses, and residents can support thriving communities and resilient landscapes.
Supported by the Kent State Healthy Communities Research Institute and Community Engaged Research Institute.
Invited Speakers:
Julie Morris, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Kent
Julie grew up in rural Northern California, where she developed a lifelong connection to the natural world. To pursue her passion for equitable, resilient communities, she earned an A.A. from Santa Rosa Junior College; a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an Environmental Studies concentration from Sonoma State University; and a Master of Sustainability from Chatham University in 2016.
After returning to her adopted home of Kent, Ohio, Julie served on the City’s Sustainability Commission from 2016 to 2019 and collaborated on local sustainability initiatives. Her interdisciplinary education and professional experience provide a systems-based perspective on social, environmental, and economic challenges at local and global scales. She now serves as Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Kent, supporting implementation of its Climate Action Plan and development of additional sustainability goals.
Deepa Vedavyas, Director of Resiliency and Sustainability, Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC)
Deepa is an award-winning sustainability and resilience leader whose cross-sector work bridges local action and global impact. She serves as the inaugural Director of Resiliency and Sustainability at the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), a council of governments serving nearly 250 communities across Ohio, where she established the organization's first sustainability and resiliency platform and is advancing commitments to a just and equitable energy transition.
With a foundation in architecture and urban planning and a recent Master's in Sustainability from Harvard University, where she was awarded the 2026 Dean's Prize for Outstanding ALM Capstone in Sustainability, Deepa's work integrates energy systems, community development, and climate action to help communities translate ambitious sustainability goals into implementation at scale. Her leadership has shaped initiatives including Cleveland's Clean and Equitable Energy Future Plan and the city's LEED for Cities and Communities Silver certification. At the Cleveland Foundation, she pioneered Ohio's first SDG learning cohort for foundations, launched the ICLEI Resilient Cities Leadership Cohort, and mobilized federal and philanthropic resources to advance climate education and resilient communities.
Deepa serves as Co-Chair of the UN SDSN USA Working Group on Diversity, Equity, and Justice for Sustainable Development. She is a co-author of the forthcoming Code-Name Hope: A Voluntary Local Review of the Black Community in Greater Cleveland and co-author of Why 2025 Must Be the Year of Leaving No One Behind, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. She has represented her region at COP27, COP28, the World ESG Forum, and ICLEI's World Congress. Her current work explores how community-centered energy systems and regional collaboration can accelerate equitable climate action and build resilient communities.
Greg Peckham, President & CEO, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Greg became President & CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) in July 2025. The Conservancy is the nonprofit, strategic partner to the CVNP, responsible for developing projects, programs, and experiences to serve more than 3.1 million annual visitors to the park. Prior to joining the Conservancy, he served as Executive Director at Cleveland Public Art from 2004 to 2011. From 2011 to 2016, he served as LAND studio’s Managing Director, then took on the role of Executive Director from 2017 to 2025. Greg earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and master’s degree in nonprofit management from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is a past recipient of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship from the German Marshall Fund of the United States and was recently awarded the 2025 Robert P. Bergman Prize from the Cleveland Arts Prize which recognizes “individuals whose life and work are illuminated by an energetic and inspiring dedication to a democratic vision of the arts”.
Moderator:
Jennifer Mapes, Ph.D., Kent State University professor, director of The Community Geography Lab, and author of The New American Small Town: Lessons for Sustainable Urban Futures.
Jennifer Mapes is an assistant professor of geography at Kent State University, where she teaches classes on urban sustainability, cartography, and environmental studies. Jen is the author of the J.B. Jackson Prize-winning book The New American Small Town: Lessons for Sustainable Urban Futures. Director of the Community Geography Collaboratory at Kent State, she works with local organizations to create maps and conduct geographic research that supports a more sustainable Northeast Ohio.
Parking:
Student Center Visitor Lot
1 Risman Drive
Kent, OH 44242
Please note: Only guests to Kent State University are to park in the Student Center Visitors Lot. Kent State University faculty, staff, and students are recommended to park in the lots designated to their parking pass.
