THRIVE Spokane The Impact of Extreme Heat

Join the Gonzaga Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment's Climate Resilience Project and Gonzaga's Environmental Studies Senior Capstone as they present the latest findings on extreme heat in Spokane. They will share results from their community science-driven heat mapping project, community survey on perceptions and experiences of extreme heat, and the impacts of extreme heat in Spokane. This project has direct impacts on our region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (THRIVE Spokane), which seeks to address climate resilience by modernizing infrastructure systems to withstand disruption, improve efficiency, and enhance connectivity.

Dr. Brian G. Henning, Director (he/him/his)

Dr. Henning is a Professor of Philosophy and of Environmental Studies at Gonzaga University and is the inaugural director and founder of the Gonzaga Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Dr. Henning joined Gonzaga's faculty in 2008. He earned a B.A. from Seattle University and an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Fordham University. An award-winning author, Dr. Henning has written or edited more than 10 books and 35 articles and chapters, including Riders in the Storm: Ethics in an Age of Climate Change (Anselm 2015) and Climate Change Ethics and the Non-human World (Routledge 2020). He has delivered more than 150 talks to general and academic audiences in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Kaitlan Ducken, Climate Resilience Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Kaitlan is orginally from northwest Washington and moved to Spokane after spending time in New Mexico and Idaho. She graduated from Colorado State University with a graduate certificate in Conservation Actions with Lands, Animals, and People and also has a B.S. in Public Health from Boise State University. Kaitlan's most recent work has been in violence prevention but she also has experience engaging directly with voters to pass open space policies with Conservation Voters of Idaho. She is excited to bring her passion for climate work to Gonzaga. When she is not working, you will most likely find her exploring trails with her dogs, Herbert and Stanley.

Corrina Farho, CivicSpark Fellow (she/her/hers)

Corrina recently graduated Colorado State University where she completed a dual major in Political Science (concentration in Environmental Politics and Policy) and International Studies (concentration in the Middle East and North Africa). Corrina is serving as a CivicSpark Fellow for Gonzaga University's Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment under the Spokane Beat the Heat initiative. Born and raised in Colorado, Corrina is excited to embark on a journey to protect a shared climate in Washington while elevating the stories and perspectives of community members.

Ben Brown, Project Assistant, ENVS Capstone student (he/him/his)

Ben is a senior studying Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in Sustainable Business. He hopes to pursue further graduate work in Environmental Policy after graduating from Gonzaga. Ben is from Portland, Oregon, and spends his free time running and foraging for mushrooms.

Emma Gashi, ENVS Capstone student (she/her/hers)

Emma is a senior studying Biology and Environmental Studies with a research concentration. She is interested in pursuing climate related work after graduation and attending graduate school. She is passionate about field work as well as policy and is excited to be working with Beat the Heat, addressing climate adaptation and public health issues.