Dr. Laura Schmitt Olabisi is a Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability and the Environmental Science and Policy Program at Michigan State University. She is an ecologist and a participatory modeler, working directly with communities on the ground creating change in complex systems. Laura’s published research includes over 50 articles and a co-edited book on the practice of participatory modeling, and community-engaged work on food systems and climate-resilient agricultural practices. She holds an Sc.B. from Brown University, and a doctoral degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She was a Leshner Leadership Fellow for Public Engagement with the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2018-19. She is a founding board member of Magnolia Moonshot 2030, a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging and connecting women leaders around the U.N Sustainable Development Goals, equity and climate justice. Laura lives in East Lansing, Michigan with her husband Michael (an economist) and their two sons.