Speakers and Panelists | Ithaca College

Learn more about this year's schedule and speakers!

2026 Keynote Speaker

Brian McCullough '05 is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of Sport Management at the University of Michigan. He graduated from Ithaca College in 2005 with a degree in Sport Management and later completed his master's and doctoral training at Texas A&M University. He held faculty positions at Bowling Green State University, the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University, and Texas A&M University. Dr. McCullough has been at the University of Michigan since 2024. His research has been supported by numerous government agencies, sport federations, and environmental organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the International Biathlon Union, the Special Olympics USA, the Green Sports Alliance, and numerous collegiate athletic departments. His reach and focus earned him an invitation from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat to participate in meetings to create the Sport for Climate Change Framework. He also contributed to the US Global Change Research Program’s Fifth National Climate Assessment on the impacts of climate change on sport, recreation, and physical activity. Dr. McCullough was recognized as a Research Fellow by the North American Society for Sport Management in 2021.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bpmcullough

Twitter/X: @mcculloughbrian

2025 Speakers

2025 Speakers - Jason Gorman

Jason Gorman is the Nature Preserve Manager for Finger Lakes Land Trust. He oversees the management and maintenance of the Land Trust’s nature preserves. He holds a B.S. in Conservation Biology from SUNY Cortland, and first got involved with the Land Trust as a volunteer.

While growing up in Rochester, and frequenting a family cottage on Keuka Lake, Jason developed a deep connection to the Finger Lakes. Working with volunteers, clearing trails, and seeing the countless scenic treasures of the region are just a few of the many fulfilling aspects of his job.

Dan Flerlage

As a teacher, Dan has been working with young members of our community for the past four decades, learning things of importance from a great many elementary, middle school and high school students (as well as a small herd of grandchildren). In 2006, students convinced him to start growing food on the LACS campus and funneling it into the school lunch program. A number of years later new construction at the school took the garden space away, and (again through the vision of younger folks) this led to the creation of the Youth Farm Project in 2009. Since then, Dan has helped the Youth Farm grow and evolve, while learning the magic that takes place when a diverse group of young people have the opportunity to work hard together growing and distributing healthy food, while discovering their own capacity to help their community.

Sarake Dembele

My name is Sarake Dembele, and I am an emerging urban planner and designer with a passion for sustainable and affordable housing. I graduated from Ithaca College with a background in Architectural Studies in May 2024, where I was the only Black, female-identifying, and visibly practicing Muslim woman in my graduating cohort. This experience shaped my perspective on inclusive and community-centered design.

Student Sustainability Colloquium Panelists

Naomi Clauhs

Naomi Clauhs is an Environmental Science major and Sociology minor at Ithaca College, where she also competes on the varsity volleyball team. During her time at IC she has consistently worked to combine her passion for the environment with the love of her sport. With the support of her coaches and boss, she has been able to use her platform with Eco-Reps to gain some traction in the athlete community. Finding Eco Athletes really opened up possibilities for collaboration and brainstorming. Eco Athletes has served as a way for Naomi to connect with other athletes nationwide in all different levels of sport, ranging from high schoolers to Olympians, on how to use their connections in sport to promote a sustainable lifestyle. She is eager to continue networking with fellow athletes and inspiring more Ithaca College students to use their platforms for sustainability.

Marshall Adams

Marshall Adams is a dual sport athlete in Rowing and Men's Swim and Dive at Ithaca College, and he is pursuing a major in Environmental Science with a Legal Studies minor. Being introduced to Eco Athletes has helped him to connect with like-minded student athletes looking to work in the environmental science field. Specifically, though the current Eco Athlete project, the Colligate Cup, Marshall has been able to get his teammates and friends involved. The Collegiate Cup works through an app called Climate Games where you can track your workouts and have those points converted into a currency that removes plastic waste from oceans. It has been rewarding to see his teammates support this cause, and he looks forward to expanding their impact as they represent Ithaca College.

Abe Marron

Abe Marron is an Environmental Science major with minors in Education and History. He has a great fondness for the outdoors and knowing the details behind natural phenomena. One of his primary passions is nature education. He teaches others about the different features you see while outdoors and tries to get people to enjoy nature more through helping people understand nature more. He believes that change happens when people care and, through leading educational walks in the Natural Lands and in the Ithaca community, he is trying to get more people to care about and understand the outdoors. Hopefully leading to more folks that are inspired to make change in the future.

Jonah Barresi

Jonah Barresi is a Senior Cinema Production major at Ithaca College with a Spanish minor who is excited to graduate this May. Through high school and college his goal has always been to use art to help others. While he loves directing and being a part of every part of the filmmaking process, he is often found Assistant Directing and Producing - positions that support other artists' visions. His post grad will include entry level jobs in ADing/producing, small creative projects, and mainly, building the social impact campaign for his thesis, Somewhere Together . When he's not making or watching movies you can find Jonah playing rugby, singing in a gospel choir, reading, and working on his Spanish.