Originally from a family farm in Western Iowa, Denise Keele branched out to study forestry at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) and held several entry positions with the Tennessee Division of Forestry before returning to complete a Master of Science focused on endangered species conservation, and then earned her doctorate in Environmental Politics from Syracuse University (joint degree with the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry). She was a celebrated teacher and colleague during her tenure as a Professor of Political Science, jointly appointed with the Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, at Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 2009-2022. Her research and teaching focused on environmental policy and law, in particular the use of the courts to influence public policy and municipalities adoption of sustainability and climate action policies. At WMU, she chaired the interdisciplinary Climate Change Working Group, bringing over one hundred faculty, students, and staff together and leading several academic and outreach programs. She served on the Kalamazoo Township Climate Committee, the City of Kalamazoo Sustainability committee, and 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 over a decade of experience in educating others and encouraging action, Keele brings a collaborative and positive approach to addressing the climate crisis. Specialties: Coalition Building, Climate Change, Environmental Policy, Environmental Law, Judicial Behavior