David Joel Thomas is an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Creative Arts at Bellevue University. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from DePaul University. His dual training reflects his commitment to bridging the gap between critical research and creative synthesis. He organizes his multidisciplinary practice around anecdotal ecosystems that underpin indigeneity, transnational migration, and diaspora. Through the lens of his Near Eastern heritage as an Assyrian American and international upbringing in Pakistan, Turkey, and Afghanistan, his work explores that precise moment when it becomes possible to transform chaotic conditions into creative process. Reflecting seemingly divergent pathways are three interrelated critical-creative projects: The Perfect Hours, a series of short, free-spirited liturgical fictions; Back Wars, an improvisatory design exploration of Ancient Mesopotamian architectural typologies; and Heirloom Artifacts a visual/literary meditation on diasporic storytelling and place-making.

JoDee Goracke has been the program director of the master's program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology since 2016 at Bellevue University, fostering a collaborative environment focused on sustainable, applied, and inclusive education. She also recently developed an interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in Creativity that centers around social entrepreneurship, a testament to the collective efforts of the dynamic faculty at the university and collaborations with outside organizations such as Design for America.

Beyond academia, JoDee is the co-creator and project lead of the Tanzania Design Project, which was launched in 2016. This design program, emphasizing social entrepreneurship, reflects a commitment to international collaboration and positive global impact through grassroots efforts. Through this initiative, JoDee has demonstrated a dedication to leveraging sustainable education for positive change on an international scale. The ongoing success of the Tanzania Design Project reflects collaborative efforts that transcend borders, illustrating the belief that meaningful change is a collective endeavor.

Dr. John Kyndt is a Professor of Microbiology and Sustainability, at the College of Science and Technology, and the Program Director for Sustainability Management at Bellevue University. His scientific specialization includes microbiology of extremophiles, photobiochemistry and algal-based renewable fuel research. He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Ghent in Belgium; as well as an Associate Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Arizona. Dr. Kyndt has published over 60 peer reviewed science papers and has a broad interest in exploratory science projects in the areas of microbiology, biochemistry and genomics. His recent research focuses on the genomics and biochemistry of microorganisms from extreme environments to better understand life’s adaptations to extreme conditions.

Marcey Yates is a Hip-Hop recording artist/producer/audio engineer and the Founder of the creative hub The Culxr House. Yates is a North Omaha native and attended Benson High School and The University of Nebraska Omaha before graduating from The Conservatory School of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona. Yates is a 5x Omaha Arts and Entertainment award winner.

Parsons & Charlesworth is an art and design studio that develops tangible worlds as discursive tools for critically appraising urgent issues. Co-founded by Jessica Charlesworth and Tim Parsons, the studio’s investigative, research-driven, speculative approach uses installation, sculpture, designed objects, writing, photography and digital media to explore key social, ecological and technological challenges of our time. Together, they develop new ways of understanding and interacting with alternative futures, addressing concerns such as the ecological crisis and the future of work through their collaborative worldbuilding projects. Their current project, Multispecies Inc., involves field research and in-depth conversations with specialists in biology, climate science, and climate modeling. This endeavor manifests as a series of narratives and objects around a fictional group of ecologists striving to cohabit with other species using advanced technologies. They are recent NEW INC Members on the Creative Science Track as part of the New Museum mentorship incubator program and both teach at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Petra Bachmaier and Sean Gallero are Chicago-based artists. After meeting in 1999 while studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, they formed Luftwerk Studio in 2007. Their chosen name—a combination of the German words Luft (air) and Werk (work, artwork—is meant to emphasize both the ephemeral, immaterial properties of light and the material frameworks in which it takes shape and is experienced. The concept of Luftwerk has proven a conceptual touchstone for over twenty years of artistic collaboration.

Recent solo exhibitions of Bachmaier and Gallero’s work have been organized by the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL (2022); Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY (2022); Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Nashville, TN (2022); Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA (2021); Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich (2020); Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL (2019); Cleve Carney Museum of Art, Glen Ellyn, IL (2017); Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL (2016); and Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL (2015). They have also realized installation projects for significant architectural sites including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago, IL (2020); Barcelona Pavilion, Barcelona (2019); Farnsworth House, Plano, IL (2014); Ford Residence, Aurora, IL (2014); Millennium Park, Chicago, IL (2012); Fallingwater, Mill Run, PA (2011); Robie House, Chicago, IL (2010); and Netsch Residence, Chicago, IL (2019). The artists have realized numerous large-scale permanent public and private commissions in Atlanta, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago, Harare, and Kansas City. Bachmaier and Gallero have been selected for residency programs at the Sustainability Lab at Bellevue University, Institute of Electronic Art at Alfred University, Loghaven, Montello Foundation, and Experimental Sound Studio, among others. They are the recipients of numerous awards, including those from the AIA Chicago, Graham Foundation, and Illinois Arts Council.