Team

Jennifer Spencer
artist/curator

Day to day, we live by habit, rarely pausing to consider the consequences of our choices.

Jennifer believes there is a requirement to change with this new time.  To adjust our patterns so that we burn less carbon. 

We can ignore, deny, or make small efforts like recycling—but that’s not enough. We must adopt new ways of living, redefine status through purpose rather than convenience, and make conscious choices to reduce our impact. From transportation and energy use to consumption, every decision matters.

Jennifer has created Voracious Appetites – Eating the Host®, a powerful, eye-opening exhibit that reveals our patterns and highlights the vital role each of us plays in healing the Earth.

  • Jennifer Spencer is an artist, inventor, and thinker known for uncovering unconventional, forward-thinking solutions to social challenges. Her work sparks shifts in perspective, inspiring action and a renewed sense of purpose.

    ​Jennifer has become increasingly concerned about the heavy impact humans have on the Earth and is drawn to work creatively in this space. 

    As an Inventor, Jennifer identified the problem of using smartphones while wearing cold weather gloves; and went on to invent, patent, manufacture, and commercialize the first winter glove for touchscreen devices.  

    The product became the #1 selling touchscreen glove and was sold across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan.  

    • Utility Patent issued by USPTO (2013)

    • Best New Company & Best New Product of 2011 (Stevie Awards, NYC)

    • Audience choice Award at Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA, Berlin 2011)

    • “Best of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show” by ABC News  (CES, Las Vegas 2011)

    • First touchscreen glove sold in Verizon, ATT, and TMobile stores.  

    As a Thinker, Jennifer created a politically-based Social Experiment during the 2020 presidential election year to empower non-voters across the country.  

    In a world that lauds loud extroverts, the Experiment, entitled You+1 provided a means for quieter people to impact the election.  

    Originating in her home state of Colorado, You+1 went on to reach thousands of introverts in 45 states; and empowered many with a quieter voice to vote.  

    Jennifer has been a Fine Artist for 30 years. 

Advisors

Dr. Scott Denning
atmospheric scientist

Dr. Scott Denning explains that climate change is Simple, Serious, and Solvable.

Simple: There’s too much carbon in the air.
Serious: When there’s too much carbon, there are dire consequences.
Solvable: Burn less carbon.

As an advisor Voracious Appetites – Eating the Host® Dr. Denning brings tremendous expertise to ensure that the exhibit emphasizes the hopeful message that climate change can be solved.

  • Education

    • Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science – 1994 – Colorado State University, Fort Collins

    • M.S. in Atmospheric Science – 1993 – Colorado State University, Fort Collins

    • B.S. in Geological Science – 1984 – University of Maine, Orono

    Career Overview

    Professor Scott Denning received his B.A. in Geological Sciences from the University of Maine in 1984, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University in 1993 and 1994. He studied radiometric geochronology, surface water geochemistry, and mountain hydrology before becoming interested in global climate and biogeochemical dynamics. After a two-year postdoctoral appointment modeling global sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2, he spent two years as an Assistant Professor in the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He joined the Atmospheric Science faculty at Colorado State University in 1998, and has served as Director of Education for CMMAP since 2006. He does a lot of outreach about climate change and takes special delight in engaging hostile audiences.

    Teaching Interests

    • Biogeochemical cycles

    • Climate and global change

    • Land-atmosphere interaction

    Research Interests

    • Atmosphere-biosphere interactions

    • Global carbon cycle

    • Land-surface climate

    • Trace gas transport

    • Remote sensing and data assimilation

    Professor Denning’s research interests include interactions between the atmosphere and terrestrial biosphere and their effects on exchange of energy, water, and carbon dioxide. His research group studies these interactions through numerical simulation modeling at local, regional, and global scales. The group also collaborates with other scientists conducting observation campaigns and longer-term field work in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Brazil. Variations of atmospheric trace gases are studied using inverse models to understand surface sources and sinks, especially in relation to the “missing sink” of carbon dioxide. Forward, process-based models are used to study both carbon and land-surface climate. The group compares the results with observations. Professor Denning’s research group also focuses on spatial scaling of land-surface processes from the scales of leaves to continents from pixels in global imagery.

    Research Sponsors

    • National Science Foundation

    • NASA

    • U.S. Department of Energy – TECO

    • NOAA

    Awards, Honors, and Positions

    • Director of Education, CMMAP

    • Monfort Professor

    • Journal of Climate – Editor

    • Engineering Faculty Award of Excellence

David Leatherman,
forest entomologist

“It’s not the beetles fault. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing,” says David Leatherman, a forest entomologist.

As a science advisor and photo contributor, he believes that “Voracious Appetites - Eating the Host® has potential to influence public opinion on important global issues related to human interaction with the environment.

“Homo sapiens is a unique member of Planet Earth’s biodiversity. We have the capacity to extinguish all life or sustain it. Which prevails is up to our actions.

The hourglass is emptying, and the more ways people can realize the unique cleverness of our species is concurrently the problem and the fix, the better.”


  • **Education**  
    - M.S. in Forestry, Duke University, 1974  
    - B.S. in Biology, Marietta College, 1971  

    **Career Overview**  
    David Leatherman is a retired entomologist who served as the sole entomologist for the Colorado State Forest Service from 1974 to 2005. His primary responsibility was managing mountain pine beetle infestations on private forested lands, as well as overseeing surveys and suppression efforts for other pests like the western spruce budworm and gypsy moth. Throughout his career, Mr. Leatherman conducted aerial surveys across millions of acres and delivered numerous presentations to a wide range of audiences. He remains active in the scientific community, contributing to ornithological publications and continuing his passion for nature and photography.

    **Professional Activities**  
    - Entomologist, Colorado State Forest Service (1974-2005)  
    - Editor, Colorado Field Ornithologists’ Journal (1994-1996)  
    - Writer, “The Hungry Bird” column for Colorado Birds (2013-present)  
    - Faculty Affiliate, Colorado State University (2006-present)  

    **Personal Interests** 
    Mr. Leatherman enjoys birdwatching, photography, and sharing his knowledge of nature through public speaking. He also has a passion for athletics, music, and enjoys pairing microbrewed beer with live music.

Jeff “Frenchy” Morisette,
land management and wildfires

“It’s not the forest fire’s fault.” Land management practices - such as Smokey Bear - combined with a drought stressed forest are contributors.

Frenchy’s research spans natural resource management, with a focus on ecosystem services, fire management, risk analytics, and the human dimensions of these systems.

He is deeply involved in interdisciplinary program development and fosters partnerships to enhance land and rangeland management. He also serves on the Rocky Mountain Research Station Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic direction of its research programs.

  • EDUCATION

    Doctorate in Philosophy, May 1997

    Forestry/Remote Sensing, statistics minor,

    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

    Thesis: Using Generalized Linear Models to Enhance Satellite-based

    Land Cover Change Detection

    International Space University, summer 1996

    Technical University of Vienna

    Summer Session Program, Vienna

    Master of Science in Applied Statistics, 1992

    Oakland University, Rochester MI

    Focused on statistical process control and Total Quality

    Management

    Funded via internships with Ford Motor Company and

    General Motors

    Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, 1990

    Siena Heights College, Adrian MI

    Major in Mathematics, Minor in Philosophy

    EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

    Director, Human Dimensions Program, Rocky Mountain

    Research Station

    US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Fort Collins

    Dec. 2020 – Present

    Chief Scientist, National Invasive Species Council

    Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary

    Feb. 2017 – Dec. 2020

    Director, Department of Interior’s (DOI) North Central Climate

    Science Center

    USGS, Fort Collins

    Dec. 2012 – Feb. 2017

    Head, Invasive Species Science Branch, USGS Fort Collins

    Science Center

    USGS, Fort Collins CO

    Physical Scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics

    12/2/2001 – 8/2/2008

    Career Overview  
    Dr. Jeffrey “Frenchy” Morissette is the manager of the Rocky Mountain Research Station’s Human Dimensions program, where he focuses on understanding and promoting the research conducted within the program to inform land management practices. He builds relationships across the Forest Service and other stakeholders to ensure the research has a broad impact. Previously, Dr. Morissette served as Chief Scientist for the National Invasive Species Council (NISC), providing scientific leadership on invasive species management. He also directed the DOI North Central Climate Science Center from 2012-2017, where he led the development of its initial Science Agenda. During his tenure with the USGS, he developed tools for habitat suitability modeling and stakeholder engagement. His NASA experience (1998-2008) included validation of satellite-based vegetation and fire detection products.

Jeanne Shoaff,
arts professional

Jeanne is an Arts Professional who excels in creating creative, meaningful work focused on human connections. She crafts thought-provoking and inspiring art experiences and environments.

Jeanne says, “I am honored to be part of the advisory team for this project. Voracious Appetites offers a culturally relevant experience that harnesses the visual arts to transform the viewer’s capacity for agency in the climate crisis.”

As a former contemporary art museum director and curator and municipal art gallery coordinator she has nearly twenty years of experience planning exhibitions and designing visual art environments and experiences for a wide range of artists and viewers.

  • Career Highlights

    Carnegie Center for Creativity, 2013-2018: assisted in developing the vision and transformation of this historic

    Carnegie Library building into a hub for emerging artists to gain exhibition and performance experience.

    Lincoln Center for Performing and Visual Arts, 2009-2017: developed, organized and curated over 50 art

    exhibitions and related educational community programs including various art sales, ArtWear Fashion Week, Fort

    Collins Studio Tour & Sale, and Creative Gardens during New West Fest; partnered with Colorado State

    University and Fort Collins Museum of Art for dynamic exhibitions and programs.

    Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art (FCMOCA), 2001-2009: more than tripled revenues and grew membership by nearly 600% in six years at FCMOCA (now Museum of Art, Fort Collins); curated and designed

    over 50 art exhibitions and related educational and community programs; partnered with OpenStage Theatre,

    Colorado State University, IMPACT Dance Company and other independent arts organizations to present dynamic exhibitions and programs integrating other arts disciplines; initiated and developed the Fort Collins Artist

    Studio Tour.

    EDUCATION

    Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Magna cum Laude, 1981, San Francisco State University

    Post-Baccalaureate Certification, Special Education, Severely Handicapped, 1981-1983,

    SFSU

    Coursework in Art History, Museum Education, Studio Art, 1995-1998, Colorado State

    University

    AWARDS AND INDEPENDENT EXHIBITIONS

    Guest Juror, “Square” at 3-Square Arts, Fort Collins, CO, December 2017

    Guest Juror, BFA Student Exhibition, Colorado State University Hatton Gallery, May 2015

    Colorado Art Education Association 2009 Museum Art Educator of the Year

    Guest Juror, “Themes Explored,” Colorado State University MFA Candidates, Colorado State

    University Hatton Gallery, December 2002

    Ceramicist