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Peter R. Crane
The John and Marion Sullivan University Professor at The University of Chicago, Peter holds appointments in the Department of the Geophysical Sciences and the Committee on Evolutionary Biology. He is known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life – its origin and fossil history, current status and conservation and use. Peter received his BS and PhD degrees in botany from the University of Reading, UK, and served on its faculty from 1978 to 1981. He joined the Field Museum of Natural History in 1982, serving as its director from 1992 to 1999. He was elected to the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences, in 1998. From 1999 to 2006 Peter was Director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. His tenure there saw strengthening and expansion of the gardens’ scientific, conservation and public programs focused on the variety of plant life. He was knighted in the UK for services to horticulture and conservation in 2004. Peter serves on the boards of World Wildlife Fund-UK, the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the National Museum of Natural History in the Smithsonian Institution. He continues his scientific work and is actively supports a variety of conservation projects, including the Millennium Seed Bank Project of Kew Gardens.

Laura Donnelley
Laura has pursued her passion for innovative artwork in many ways. She founded the Good Works Foundation, which supports innovative approaches to education and cultural enrichment, individual and world peace and spiritual tolerance. She also founded Art Matters Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that funded individual, experimental artists. Laura serves on the boards of the Santa Monica Museum of Art and the Los Angeles Opera, and helped develop the Aspen Art Museum. She is the daughter of Gaylord and Dorothy.

Strachan Donnelley
Strachan is a philosopher and conservationist. He is president and founder of the Center for Humans and Nature, an organization dedicated to exploring, articulating, and promoting humans' long-term social and moral responsibilities to human communities, natural ecosystems and landscapes. Strachan serves on the boards and advisory boards of many organizations that reflect his commitment to thinking, education and ethics including New School University, University of Chicago, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, Yale Institute of Biospheric Studies, Coldwater Conservation Fund, National Humanities Center, World Wildlife Fund and Aldo Leopold Society. He is the son of Gaylord and Dorothy.

Shawn M. Donnelley
Shawn is president of Strategic Giving, a Chicago-based firm which provides consultation on philanthropy. She volunteers her time and advice to many Chicago area theaters and arts organizations. She is board chair of The Goodman Theatre and serves on the board of the Art Institute of Chicago, Heartland Literary Society, the Marwen Foundation and Chicago Communities in Schools. Her commitment to Chicago's nonprofit community has been recognized by Today's Chicago Woman magazine and Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network. Beyond the art world Shawn's other passion is politics. A veteran of several political campaigns, she has hosted a television political talk show in Boston and taught political communications at colleges and universities. She is the granddaughter of Gaylord and Dorothy.

Ronne Hartfield
Ronne is known locally, nationally and internationally for her expertise in the field of arts education. She was executive director of Museum Education at The Art Institute of Chicago and prior to that, executive director of Chicago-based Urban Gateways: The Center for Arts in Education. Under her leadership, the program was awarded a Presidential Medal for the Arts. She has taught at the School of the Art Institute, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois. Ronne is a published poet and author. She has been a consultant to the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Office of Education, National Institute for Museum and Library Services, and has served on the boards and advisory boards of the American Council for the Arts, Harvard University Graduate School of Education and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Charles Lane
Charles is the managing partner of Holcombe, Fair, and Lane, a real estate brokerage and development firm in Charleston, S.C. He is also a committed conservationist, having served on numerous boards and commissions promoting natural resource preservation and smart growth. He currently serves as Chairman of the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

Cheryl Mayberry McKissack
Cheryl Mayberry McKissack is the founder, President and CEO of Nia Enterprises, LLC-a Chicago –based research and marketing services firm founded in 2000. Nia Enterprises, LLC, provides opt-in; permission based on-line research and marketing solutions for the growing and specialized areas of the multi-cultural consumer markets. Ms. McKissack is well recognized as an entrepreneur, co-author of the Nia Guide series of books, Corporate and Civic Board Director and Associate Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University. In addition to her civic activities, Ms. McKissack has received several acknowledgements for her leadership endeavors and was recently recognized with the 2007 Kellogg Alumni Rising Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the 2006 Leader Entrepreneurship award from the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. She received her BS from Seattle University and her MBA from Northwestern.

John Rashford
Dr. John H. Rashford is a Professor of Anthropology at the College of Charleston, specializing in ethnobotany. He began teaching at the college in 1983 after receiving his M.A. in Anthropology 1978 and PhD in Anthropology 1982 from The Graduate School at City University of New York. The subject of his dissertation was "Roots and Fruits: Social Class and Intercropping in Jamaica." Dr. Rashford received his B.A. in Anthropology and Music from Friends World College in Huntington, New York.

Nancy F. Talbot
Nancy has dedicated her talents to the lives of underserved youth, both as a staff member and a board member of nonprofit organizations including Infant Health Project, the Child Advocacy Project of Better Government Association, Planned Parenthood and Voices for Illinois Children. She is an award-winning journalist, having worked both as a freelance writer as well as on the staff of The Chicago Reporter. Nancy lives in Cleveland where she serves on the board of the Coalition for Greater Cleveland's Children.

John H. Tiencken
John Tiencken is an attorney practicing in Charleston, South Carolina. He is of counsel to the Law Firm of McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC. His areas of practice include utility, environmental and corporate law. Mr. Tiencken attended the College of Charleston (B.A. 1975), the University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1978), and Emory University (L.L.M. Taxation 1979). Mr. Tiencken has served as the Berkeley County S.C. Attorney, General Counsel of the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) and President (2000-2004) of the Authority. He has served as a board member of the Palmetto Economic Development Corporation, The Energy Authority (Jacksonville, Fla.) and has been the Chairman of the American Public Power Association Legal Section. He has been involved in numerous civic organizations, having served as the Chairman of the Lowcountry Community Foundation, the Berkeley County Historical Society, and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Currently he is a board member of the Bunnelle Foundation, The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

Max E. Wheeler
Max began his career teaching English at New Roads School in Santa Monica, CA. More recently he has been developing his writing talents and traveling internationally. He is the grandson of Gaylord and Dorothy.