Mark Evans, MBE, is a British explorer, field guide, author, and wilderness advocate who focuses on building cultural bridges and advocating for the oceans and ecosystems in Oman and the Arabian peninsula. Evans joined us in October 2025 for a talk and visits with student groups. A list of related resources is available at our Mark Evans Handbill.

Lorinda John, a Buffalo-based indigenous chef and artist, specializes in traditional cooking methods and cedar hoop artwork. She joined us in November 2025 for a talk, cooking demonstrations, and cedar hoop making. You can watch/listen to Lorinda John’s keynote recording. A list of related resources is available at our Lorinda John handbill.

Sarah Dimick is a Northwestern University professor and author of Unseasonable: Climate Change in Global Literatures, exploring how literature portrays climate change and environmental justice. She visited in February 2026 for a keynote talk, conversations with Penn State classes and groups, and a reading from her book. You can watch our Sarah Dimick book reading recording. A list of related resources is available at our Sarah Dimick handbill.

Ethan Tapper, an experienced forester and author of the bestselling book How to Love a Forest, is successfully restoring a 175-acre forest he named Bear Island in Vermont. Tapper visited in March 2026 for a keynote talk, conversations with Penn State groups, a forest walk, and a book reading. A list of related resources is available at our Ethan Tapper handbill. 

Laurene Allen is a Goldman Environmental Prize winner advocating against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in Merrimack, NH and globally. Allen visited Penn State in April 2026 as part of the annual Student Sustainability Summit, offering a keynote address and meeting with Penn State classes and the community. A list of related resources is available at our Laurene Allen handbill.

Tim Palmer, Penn State alumnus and award-winning photographer and author of 33 books about conservation, adventure travel, and rivers. Tim joined us for a public talk and book signing in September 2024 to discuss his latest book Seek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution to Our Flooding Crisis. A list of related resources is available at our Tim Palmer handbill.

Diane Burko, award-winning Pennsylvania-based photographer and artist, whose work was featured in the newly reopened Palmer Museum’s inaugural exhibition Made in PA. Diane joined us for a public artist talk at the Palmer Museum of Art in October 2024, as well as for critiques with Penn State art students, and meetings and roundtables with campus and community groups. A list of related resources is available at our Diane Burko handbill.

Tawnya Brant, entrepreneur, author, Top Chef Canada competitor and leader in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement. Tawnya joined us in November 2024 for a film panel, cooking demonstration, special dinner with Penn State Dining Services, and meetings with community and campus groups. A list of related resources is available at our Tawnya Brant handbill.

Lisa Silvestri, Penn State professor and author of Peace by Peace, an exploration of how peace can be a life-giving civic practice. Lisa joined us in April 2025 for a talk as part of the 3rd Annual Student Sustainability Summit, which also featured interactive games, tabling, demonstration of a traditional West African nomadic tent, film screening, and climate workshop for student leaders..

Till Kellerhoff, program director for the Club of Rome and program lead of Earth4All, a global collective of scientists, economists, communicators, and advocates working in 5 areas to turnaround modern economies and focus on more sustainable ways of societal living. Till joined us in October 2023 as part of the warmup events towards our fall 2023 Colloquium on the Environment with Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, co-chair of the Club of Rome.

Freddie Bitsoie, an award-winning Diné chef and author of New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian. Freddie joined us for a cooking demonstration with Penn State’s Student Farm, a public talk, demonstration at State College High School, and other events as part of Native American Heritage Month in November 2023.

Geoff Dembicki, award-winning journalist and author of The Petroleum Papers, named a Best Book of 2022 by the Washington Post and others, which explores the history of how much fossil fuel energy companies knew about the likely effects of climate change decades ago. Geoff joined us for a public talk, Q&As with local high school students and community groups, and a book reading in February 2024.

Heather Swan, award-winning eco-poet, author, and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose most recent book Where the Grass Still Sings was published by Penn State University Press in May 2024. Heather joined us for a public talk, a nature-writing workshop, poetry reading, and more events exploring humans’ relationships with the insect world in March 2024.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news about what our Showcase guests will be doing during their visits, please sign-up for our Mainstream Newsletter or check out our Sustainability Calendar of Events.