The 2020 Symposium, with presenting sponsors Colorado Dairy Farmers, CoBank, and Leprino Foods Company, was hosted virtually on Nov. 18-19 and included a range of speakers focused on water issues and solutions. Please click the hyperlinks below to view video of the sessions.
The Water in the West Symposium mirrors programing and conversations that will be ongoing at CSU Spur and its Hydro building, focused on water; Spur opens in 2022!
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 18, 2020
10:30 & 11 A.M.
Water Inspiration: Virtual Tours
Denver Zoo — virtual tour and Q&A regarding the Zoo’s water conservation and recycling program (complete with elephants!)
Denver Water — virtual tour and Q&A regarding Denver Water’s work in their watershed to link forest health to your faucet
1 P.M.
Welcome to Water in the West 2020
Jocelyn Hittle — Colorado State University System
Tyrone Smith — Colorado State University
Tony Frank — Colorado State University System
Jim Lochhead — Denver Water
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
1:10 P.M.
Keynote: The Power of Story
Gary Knell — National Geographic Partners
2 P.M.
Moving Minds: How Social Movements, Campaigns, and Storytelling Shape Public Sentiment
Moderator: Yolanda Bevill — Colorado State University
Gary Hirshberg — Stonyfield Organic
Sarah Soule — Stanford Graduate School of Business
Justin Worland — TIME
3:15 P.M.
Food and Water: A Cross-Sector Conversation
Moderator: Secretary Tom Vilsack — Colorado State University System
David LaFrance — American Water Works Association
Secretary Karen Ross — California Department of Food & Agriculture
THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2020
9 A.M.
Welcome and Hydro Announcement
Jocelyn Hittle — Colorado State University System
9:10 A.M.
Governor’s Remarks
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
9:45 A.M.
Western Governors Series
Moderator: Jim Ogsbury / Ward Scott — Western Governors’ Association
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis
Nevada Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall
10:30 A.M.
Secretary’s Dialogue: Election Insights
Secretary Tom Vilsack — Colorado State University System
David Axelrod — Institute of Politics, University of Chicago
11 A.M.
Closing Remarks
Secretary Tom Vilsack — Colorado State University System
Thank you to our 2020 sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSORS
PREMIER SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS
TECH SPONSOR
NONPROFIT SPONSORS
KAREN SCHLATTER
Director, Colorado Water Center
Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.
TOM VILSACK
Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.
He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.
Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Spur!
CSU Spur is hosting its first Fourth of July party! Join us at 5:30 p.m. on July 4 for a live DJ, local barbecue, activities for kids, and a view of celebrations across the city from the Terra rooftop.
Tickets are $5.
We’ll see you Saturday!
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (Aug. 8), and this month, the theme is Back to School Bash. Join us to make your own pencil pouch, pick up some school supplies, and participate in hands-on STEM activities and experiences designed to spark curiosity in learners of all ages.