Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner: Poetry & Climate Policy in the Marshall Islands

About the Speaker

Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner is a poet, performance artist, and organizer. She is known for her creative practice using poetry, poem videos, performances, and art installations exploring intersections between climate change impacts on the Marshall Islands, the Us nuclear legacy, and her culture's rich storytelling. She has over 12 years of experience organizing programming on climate change, environment, and nuclear issues for Marshallese youth with the nonpt This past year, she completed her PhD in Pacific Studies at Australia National University linking climate coloniality, Marshallese climate adaptation policies, and poetry. She currently serves as Presidential Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands government.

Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals

Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner is the spring 2026 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals. The program was chartered by the late senator and his wife to bring scholars, artists, and public intellectuals to Hawai‘i to share their life experiences and discuss their work on behalf of democratic ideals. The Inouye chair is administered jointly by the Department of American Studies in the College of Arts, Languages & Letters and the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Lead Event Sponsor

Department of American Studies and the William S. Richardson School of Law

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