STEP Panel: UMN Alumni at The Nature Conservancy

Join us for a lunchtime panel of UMN alumni in leadership roles at The Nature Conservancy: Kris Johnson, Director of Agriculture, North America, and Joe Fargione, Lead Scientist, North America. Center for STEP Co-Chair Bonnie Keeler will moderate. 


The panelists will share some background on their career paths, and discuss their work at The Nature Conservancy.

 

About the Speakers

 

Joe Fargione is Science Director for The Nature Conservancy’s North America Region. Joe’s research reveals nature’s hidden benefits to people, including how nature can help mitigate climate change.

Prior to joining The Nature Conservancy, Joe received a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College, a PhD in Ecology from the University of Minnesota and held faculty positions at the University of New Mexico and Purdue University. Joe’s dozens of scientific publications have been cited over thirteen thousand times and have generated national media coverage, including by NBC Nightly News, Time Magazine, The New York Times and The Onion, among others. Joe is a native of Minneapolis, MN where he resides with his family.

 

Kris Johnson is the director of agriculture for The Nature Conservancy’s North America Region. A skilled collaborator and respected scientist and strategist, Kris leads an interdisciplinary team of science, policy and agriculture experts in a collaborative approach to help farmers and ranchers meet the growing demand for food production while protecting critical lands and waters for people and nature. The North America Agriculture team is comprised of a dozen staff members and a virtual regional team of more than 100 individuals across the United States. Kris and his team also work closely with the TNC’s Global Regenerative Food Systems team.

A sought-after speaker for industry events, Kris often gives presentations and serves on panels where he speaks about the vital role of conservation agriculture in achieving a sustainable food system. He is the vice chair of the board of directors for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, serves on the Science Advisory Council for Field to Market and is a board member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.