Speaker Biographies
Keynote Speakers
Nicolas Lampert
Interdisciplinary Artist and Author
Saturday Art Build
Stop in on Saturday for a “Democracy and Governance” themed art build, coordinated by Nicolas Lampert.
Meagan Wolfe
Administrator, Wisconsin Elections Commission
Keynote Presentation #1
Title Coming Soon
Wolfe is an administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, serving as the state’s chief election official. Meagan was appointed by the bi-partisan, six-member Commission in February of 2018 and unanimously confirmed by the Wisconsin State Senate in May of 2019 for a four-year term. Serving as an election security advocate and ambassador for the needs of Wisconsin’s clerks and voters are among her highest priorities. A significant part of her job is ensuring that Wisconsin’s 1,922 local election officials (the most of any state) have the resources and technology they need to conduct elections. Meagan previously served as WEC’s Deputy Administrator and IT Director, managing the teams that develop and maintain the statewide voter registration system, election security, and all other IT applications of the Commission. Meagan joined state service in 2011, starting as the state’s voter outreach coordinator and later as an elections IT project manager leading a major redesign of the MyVote Wisconsin voter information portal (myvote.wi.gov).
Buey R. Tut
Executive Director, Aqua-Africa, CEO Spark CDI
Keynote Presentation #2
“Misogyny: It’s Still Here”
Buey Ray Tut immigrated from East Africa to the US at the age of 11. Buey grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from High School, he became the first in his family to attend college. Buey earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
For the past decade, Buey founded and led an international development organization, Aqua-Africa. Under his guidance, the organization grew to impact over 22,000 lives and expanding its donor base to include international foundations and the U.S. government.
Prior to Aqua-Africa, Buey served in various capacities, including as Omaha District Representative for the Boy Scouts of America and as a congressional aide in Washington, DC.
Active in the Omaha community, Buey serves as a board member to InCommon housing and Nebraskaland Foundation. Buey is Married to Mariana Nieto and is a proud father of Nilo Tut.
Alberto R. Coll
Director, Global Engagement; Vincent de Paul Professor of Law
Keynote Presentation #3
Title Coming Soon
Before joining DePaul, Dr. Alberto R. Coll served for five years as dean of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies, the U.S. Navy’s foremost strategic research center. A cum laude graduate from Princeton University in history, he earned his JD and PhD in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. In 1982, Professor Coll joined the faculty at Georgetown University, and in 1986 was appointed secretary of the Navy Senior Research Fellow at the Naval War College. In 1989, he became the youngest holder of the Charles H. Stockton Chair of International Law, the college’s oldest chair. From 1990 to 1993, Professor Coll was principal deputy assistant secretary of defense, serving in the Pentagon office that oversaw the Defense Department’s policy, strategy and $3 billion budget for special operations forces and “low-intensity” conflict, including counterterrorism. For his work, he received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Professor Coll is the author of The Wisdom of Statecraft and editor of several other books on international relations and law. He is the author of prize-winning articles in the American Journal of International Law and the Naval War College Review, as well as articles in Foreign Policy, Washington Quarterly, Harvard Journal of International Law, the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and the UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. In 2004, Professor Coll received the Antonio Jose Irisarri Medal for his contribution to strengthening the rule of law and civilian control over the military in Guatemala. He has served as consultant to the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, the Rand Corp., the United States Information Agency, and numerous defense and intelligence organizations. He is a frequent commentator on American foreign policy, U.S. relations with Cuba and Latin America, and international legal and political issues. Over the past 28 years he has lectured at more than 120 universities, think tanks, government agencies, and public forums in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and South Africa. Professor Coll is a member of the Virginia Bar, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Instituto de Estudios Juridicos y Politicos at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. At DePaul, he teaches courses on international law, international human rights, U.S. foreign relations, terrorism, international trade and Latin America.
Bethany Rentsch
Psychological Associate, State of Wisconsin
Keynote Presentation #4
“Nation Building in Afghanistan: How it Began, Why it Failed, and What Happens Next”
Jennifer Kim Sohn
Multimedia Artist and Activist
Keynote Presentation #5
“25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee”
Jennifer Kim Sohn is a multimedia artist and activist whose work highlights the pressing issues of our time. Her art has been exhibited in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and California. Her work on Biodiversity/Extinction through the Art & Science Collaborations was shown in the New York Hall of Science, The Pennington School, and in online exhibits for the Queens Chronicle and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Most recently, she has organized and curated a crowd sourced installation called 25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One refugee aims to raise awareness of the international refugee crisis by marking the number of displaced people via stitches on embroidered panels. Over 2,300 stitchers from 37 countries worldwide have participated to create this immersive and emotional experience.
Emigrating from South Korea to the USA in the last year of high school, it took “Jungeun” more than a decade to find her voice through her art: commentaries of her American life as an immigrant, daily struggle as a mother, then as an advocate for a fairer world. Jennifer studied design and received her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and MFA from Stanford University. Her fiber work began after taking classes with Carole Beadle at College of Marin. Juxtaposing “domestic” craft such as embroidery and paper felting against challenging current events, Jennifer’s goal is to provide a quiet space for reflection and to inspire people to action.
“Confronted with escalating environmental and social trials daily, I often felt responsible, yet paralyzed to act. I believe that small, sustained changes in our habits both as a consumer and in social interactions are the tools for paradigm change. By working in “traditionally feminine” craft, such as embroidery and textile arts, I hope my art engages others by tapping into our shared experiences and emotions. Ultimately, I hope it empowers viewers to advocate for change and find solutions for the crises and conflicts facing the world today.”
Kareem R. Muhammad
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll University
Keynote Presentation #6
“The Fight For Black Empowerment in the USA: America’s Last Hope”
Dr. Muhammad, who has nearly two decades of teaching experience, most recently served as the Dean of the Division of Business, Education and Social Sciences at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. During his tenure with Allen, he led the creation and development of several new majors in response to market demand, hosted academic conferences to raise his division’s profile, and led curriculum redesign so that all students could see themselves reflected in their coursework. His focus on student success within his division led to increased student scholarship opportunities and dramatically improved student graduate school acceptance rates. In addition, he revised assessment practices to better align with university processes and created structures to support the academic achievement of students of color.
Dr. Muhammad earned his bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Chicago State University, his master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, and his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Illinois. His academic research focuses on the intersection of culture and race, with a specific interest in hip-hop subculture’s preeminent role in informing the contemporary black public sphere.
Cassie Barnhardt
Associate Professor, College of Education, University of Iowa
Keynote Presentation #7
“What do Universities Have to do with Democracy?”
Stephanie A. Urchick
President-Elect, Rotary International
Rotary Club of McMurray
Pennsylvania, USA
Keynote Presentation #8
Rotary International President-elect 2023-2024
Stephanie Urchick is a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA. She will serve RI as president in 2024-25. She has been an RI director and Rotary Foundation trustee. She has served RI in numerous capacities, including as training leader, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, and RI president’s representative. In addition, Stephanie was a representative and member-at-large to three sessions of the Council on Legislation.
Stephanie has also served as chair of the Rotary Strategic Planning Committee and The Rotary Foundation’s Centennial Celebration Committee, as well as a member of various Rotary committees, including the Election Review Committee and Operational Review Committee.
A Rotary member since 1991, Stephanie has participated in a variety of international service projects, including National Immunization Days in India and Nigeria. In Vietnam, she worked with clubs to help build a primary school and traveled to the Dominican Republic to install water filters. A student of several Slavic languages, she has mentored new Rotary members in Ukraine and coordinated a Rotary Foundation grant for a mammography equipment and a biopsy unit for a hospital in Poland. In its commemorative book, the Rotary Club of Krakow, Poland, noted Stephanie as a key figure for helping the re-birth of Rotary in post-Communist Poland.
Currently, Stephanie is helping to partner clubs and districts in the U.S. with Rotary clubs in Albania, Kosovo, and Ukraine for humanitarian and educational services.
Stephanie’s professional background is in the higher education, consulting, and entertainment industries. She received her doctorate degree in Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has been recognized and awarded by The Rotary Foundation and numerous community and international organizations.
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Breakout Speakers
Breakout Session #1
Monday, June 24 at 2:30 PM CDT
Delegates choose from one (1) of the following:
"Who Cares About the Global Refugee Crisis and Democratic Backsliding in 2024?"
Peter Gerlach
Lecturer, International Studies Program, University of Iowa; Executive Director, Iowa City Foreign Relations Council
Dr. Peter Gerlach is assistant professor of instruction in the International Studies Program at The University of Iowa and executive director of the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC). He received his BA and MA degrees in English from Ripon College and the University of Northern Colorado, respectively. After serving in the US Peace Corps in Mongolia, he earned a PhD in Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University where he conducted dissertation research on the lived experiences of international students at Grinnell College. Dr. Gerlach’s teaching areas include international studies, international education, refugee and immigrant studies, and community engaged learning. He serves on the board of directors at the Refugee and Immigrant Association, the planning committee of the Refugee Alliance of Johnson County, and is a member of the inaugural Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Higher Education Ambassador program. He lives in Iowa City, IA with his wife and two children.
Sunday Goshit
Adjunct Assistant Professor, International Studies Program, University of Iowa
Sunday Goshit is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the International Studies Program at the University of Iowa. He came to the US from Nigeria over two decades ago and obtained a PhD in Physical Geography with emphasis in Synoptic Climatology from the University of Iowa. Sunday taught geography at the University of Jos Nigeria. He obtained a BSc and MSc in geography and environmental and resources planning from the University of Jos. Over the past two decades he has been very active with the immigrant and refugee community in the Iowa City area and is on the Board of Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, President of the Board of Directors of Iowa City Compassion, Co-convener and Board Member of the African Communities Network of Iowa, the planning committee of Refugee Alliance of Johnson County and most recently called to serve on the advisory board of the Community Outreach and Engagement of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Sunday lives in Coralville with his wife. They have four grown children and five grandchildren.
"How Diplomats promote Democracy around the World"
Jonathan Ward
Retired diplomat, Army veteran, Rotarian
Jon is a retired U.S. diplomat. His Foreign Service postings included Saudi Arabia, Papua New Guinea, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and Brazil. He also served as Director for South and Central Asia at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and as a Middle East Foreign Policy Advisor in the Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy at the Joint Staff. He later worked as the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium, and Director of International Trade and Investment for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Jon holds J.D., MBA, and BS degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is an Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm.
Jacob Schueller
Teacher Education Fellow, Jack Miller Center
Emma Nelson
Senior, Oconomowoc High School
Eric Pullin
Professor of History and Asian Studies, Carthage College
Breakout Session #2
Wednesday, June 26 at 2:30 PM CDT
Delegates choose from one (1) of the following:
"Felony Disfranchisement in Wisconsin"
Dante Cottingham
Racine Office of Violence Prevention
Dant’e Cottingham, at 46 years old, is a remarkable individual with a powerful story of resilience and advocacy. As a Juvenile Lifer, Criminal Justice, and Prison Reform Advocate, Dant’e’s journey is one of transformation and impact.
A native of Racine, Dant’e’s life took a turn at the age of 17 when he was tried as an adult and received a Life sentence. For 27 years, he navigated the challenges of incarceration until his release in 2022. Since regaining his freedom, Dant’e has emerged as a prominent leader in Racine and across Wisconsin.
His contributions to the community are vast, including his role as the former interim associate director of EXPO (Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing), a statewide network. Currently serving as the Intensive Outreach Specialist for the city of Racine, Dant’e is dedicated to advocating for criminal justice and prison reform with unwavering passion.
Through his work, Dant’e aims to share his experiences to educate the public and humanize the incarcerated, fostering understanding and empathy. His commitment to creating positive change and empowering others is a testament to his strength and determination.
Dant’e Cottingham is a beacon of hope and resilience, using his voice to make a difference and inspire change in the world of criminal justice and beyond.
"Democracy 101: Elements of Local Government"
Juan Arevalo
Sound Mind Program Coordinator, Milwaukee Turners
Juan Arévalo first joined the Milwaukee Turners as an intern from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for the course Writing Internship in the Humanities in the Spring of 2022. Juan joined the Sound Ming Program as a program coordinator after graduating from UW-Milwaukee and obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Community Engagement and Education and in English in the spring of 2022. During his time at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee he was a Student Undergraduate Research Fellow, where he translated and curated the Cuentos Website, which focuses on the accounts and battle for reproductive justice of Latina women in Wisconsin. He also interned at Northwestern University’s ISGMH (Institute of Sexual Gender Minority Health). Along with his passion for helping others and working with youth, Juan is also passionate about writing, film, soccer, history, and different cultures.
Jessye Hale (송진주)
Sound Mind Program Coordinator, Milwaukee Turners
Jessye’s Bio: Jessye Hale (송진주) joined Milwaukee Turners in 2022 as a rock-climbing instructor and began working on the Sound Mind team as a Program Coordinator in 2023. In 2018, after graduating from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Jessye was awarded the prestigious US State Department’s Critical Languages Scholarship and proceeded to work in South Korea as a research scientist from 2019-2021. After reconnecting with her birth culture in Korea, she decided to return to Milwaukee and began involvement in non-profit work. Her interest in Milwaukee Turners comes from a passion for community work, education, and advocacy for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and experiences as well as a strong connection and love for Milwaukee.
"Building Youth Political Power"
Amber West
Lead High School Organizer, Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT)
Leaders Igniting Transformation is a Wisconsin based non-profit that focuses on youth advocacy, youth leadership development, and youth civic engagement. We work with 10 Milwaukee Public High Schools and 11 UW-system colleges. Our students work year-round on political education and engagement in their communities. Amber has been an organizer with LIT for 3 years organizing high school students in Milwaukee and La Crosse.
Laura Braza
Associate Artistic Director, Milwaukee Rep Theater
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
“Democracy, Governance, and the Media”