Introducing the Panel
Heather Petersen
Heather Petersen
Heather Petersen
Heather Petersen (She/They) believes in the power of community. She is a full time activist, with a focus on LGBTQ+ social issues and justice. Heather is the President and founder of the Knox County Pride Alliance. She is deeply involved with Kenyon's campus community and enjoys working with her students. Heather is a mixed media artist,
Heather Petersen (She/They) believes in the power of community. She is a full time activist, with a focus on LGBTQ+ social issues and justice. Heather is the President and founder of the Knox County Pride Alliance. She is deeply involved with Kenyon's campus community and enjoys working with her students. Heather is a mixed media artist, certified aromatherapist and reiki practitioner. She loves gardening, singing, the piano, spending time with family and friends, and her certified therapy dog: a Doberman Greyhound named Vida.
Nicholas Theis
Heather Petersen
Heather Petersen
Nicholas Theis is joined Kenyon’s Department of Sociology in July 2024. His research broaches questions across several areas, including environmental sociology, world-systems analysis, rural issues, scientific knowledge production and research methods. Generally, he is interested in (1) using quantitative methods to understand the interse
Nicholas Theis is joined Kenyon’s Department of Sociology in July 2024. His research broaches questions across several areas, including environmental sociology, world-systems analysis, rural issues, scientific knowledge production and research methods. Generally, he is interested in (1) using quantitative methods to understand the intersection of social inequalities and environmental change across scales, (2) innovating research areas by applying novel methods to well-studied questions, and (3) analyzing the relationship between rural identities and environmental problems and decision-making.
John Rufo
Heather Petersen
Kayla Hughes
John Rufo (They/Them) is Assistant Professor of American Studies at Kenyon, where they teach and research 20th century social movements, particularly related to prison abolition, Black feminism, and internationalism.
Kayla Hughes
Heather Petersen
Kayla Hughes
Kayla Hughes (She/They) is a community organizer, advocate, and operations professional whose work is grounded in radical empathy and dignity. As President of Hard Knox Mutual Aid, they build sustainable systems of care rooted in solidarity. With over a decade of grassroots experience, she has led initiatives like Pay it Forward Columbus,
Kayla Hughes (She/They) is a community organizer, advocate, and operations professional whose work is grounded in radical empathy and dignity. As President of Hard Knox Mutual Aid, they build sustainable systems of care rooted in solidarity. With over a decade of grassroots experience, she has led initiatives like Pay it Forward Columbus, coordinated resources, and built coalitions across Ohio. She is a writer, artist, photographer, and operations manager at a local wildlife preserve, where she blends her love of nature, sustainability, and community resilience.