Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Kendra McSweeney to Hold Public Lecture at Knox College

Knox College is pleased to welcome Professor of Geography at Ohio State University Kendra McSweeney as the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar for a public lecture, “What is Political Ecology? Lessons from the Tree of Heaven,” on Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 PM in the Trustees Room of Alumni Hall. This lecture is open to the public. 

Professor McSweeney’s lecture offers an opportunity for the Knox and Galesburg communities to engage with her expertise on human-environment interactions, particularly in Central and South America.

McSweeney’s research explores the relationship between people and nature, with a focus on forested environments. Her recent work highlights the impact of global drug prohibition—the ‘war on drugs’—on Indigenous lands and tropical forests. Her research has been featured in leading journals such as Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Beyond academia, McSweeney has written for The Washington Post and regularly advises policymakers, including at the United Nations. Her work has been supported by the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations. She earned her Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal and teaches courses on environment-society geography and fieldwork at Ohio State.

Knox Associate Professor of Political Science & International Relations Katie Stewart believes McSweeney's research showcases the importance of broad engagement across the liberal arts and sciences and lifelong learning. She shared her excitement in bringing this opportunity to campus for the Knox and Galesburg communities to take part in. 

“Professor McSweeney's research, teaching, and public engagement are perfect examples of Phi Beta Kappa's values,” Stewart said.

For more information, contact Professor Katie Stewart <klstewart@knox.edu>.