Celebrities are popular culture icons that can use their influence and their financial means to educate people on environmental issues and to implement sustainable strategies throughout the world. When doing so, they have acted as Nature-centered leaders. In order to understand which celebrities are acting as Nature-centered leaders, it is necessary for us to first examine what it takes to be considered a Nature-centered leader. Stober, Brown, and Cullen published Nature-centered Leadership: An Aspirational Narrative, where write on Nature-centered leaders: Nature-centered leaders should dialogue and act with others on Nature’s behalf. They recognize the value of power with Nature and they work to encourage dialogue around emerging strategies to protect Nature. (2013, p. 29) The text discusses how the media can play an influential role, but, as environmental concerns have found a permanent home as a contemporary issue, it is clear that celebrities continue to make Nature-centered decisions when selecting how to use their time, fame, and resources are worthy of further exploration. Celebrities from areas including television, film, music, and sports have helped make great strides through promoting sustainability initiatives that are good for the planet, both on and off the screen/stage/page/field/court. Nature-centered leaders, those who speak with others and act on Nature’s behalf, have and can continue to be found in the public eye. This presentation will focus on five celebrities who have used their spotlight to shine a spotlight on environmental concerns. Each celebrity selected highlights a different way celebrities are using their fame to act on Nature’s behalf.
About the presentersSean J. Cullen
Sean J. Cullen is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership Studies with a specialization in Corporate Leadership at Alvernia University (Reading, PA, USA) where he also works as a Graduate Assistant for the Ph.D. Department. Cullen has a Masters in Community Leadership and a B.A. in Political Science. Cullen was selected as the 2014 Social Media Chair for Common Ground Publishing’s On Sustainability Knowledge Community and is a member of the International Leadership Association, the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association, and the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta. In 2014 he was awarded an O’Pake Graduate Fellowship for Leadership and was selected as an On Sustainability Graduate Scholar. In 2011 he won an award for Academic Excellence and Civic Engagement in part for his work on developing a documentary short and a five-year strategic plan for a barrio located in the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Cullen is a co-author of Nature-Centered Leadership: An Aspirational Narrative, which is a book for those who aspire to reflect on their relationship with Nature while influencing others to do the same.
Nicole Christine Kantor
Nicole C. Kantor is currently in her final stages of obtaining her Master’s in Business Administration Degree at Alvernia University (Reading, Pa, USA) where she is also working as a Graduate Assistant for the Marketing Department. She was previously the Business Development Leader and Marketing Manager at Windows Catering Company in Alexandria, Va, where she generated business and numerous client contacts for the company. Nicole has recently started her own event planning business called Events by Nicole Christine where she handles all aspects of weddings, anniversaries, showers, etc. She will be graduating in December 2014 with her Master’s in Business Administration.