2026 Civic Lands Symposium

The Center for Civic Lands and Democratic Stewardship enjoyed a soft launch with a special mini-symposium held as part of the joint Southeast Conference for Public Administration and Northeast Conference on Public Administration.

The symposium brought together scholars and practitioners to explore an emerging question:

How can public lands and shared landscapes serve as spaces for democratic practice, civic learning, stewardship, and collective care?

Participants include:

Biq Questions in Public Lands

• Brooke Rudow, University of Central Florida
• Levi Tenen, Virginia Wesleyan University
• Charles Hayes, University of Montana

What We Know

• Dawn Harfmann, National Issues Forum Institute
• Kristen Crossney, West Chester University
• Yinglin Ma, University of Central Florida
• Julie Richter, College of William & Mary

Public Lands Reshaped

• Cathy Allen, The Board Doctor
• Shannon Bungart, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Todd Arrington, Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation
• Nathan Schaumleffel, Indiana State University

Adminsitrative and Strategic Issues in Public Land Management

• Jaclyn Piatak, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Leigh Hersey, University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Thomas Bryer, Old Dominion University