The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment has selected four scholars for the 2026–27 Levenick Resident Scholars in Sustainability Leadership Program. Funded by a generous endowment from Illinois Alumnus Stuart L. Levenick and his wife Nancy J. Levenick, the resident scholar program brings experts from other universities, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations to share fresh perspectives, stimulate interdisciplinary interactions, and connect with the University of Illinois community.
This cohort of resident scholars hails from across the country — and beyond. They will pursue their scholarship while interacting with students and faculty across campus to promote multi-disciplinary research, education, and outreach. The cohort will collaborate with Illinois faculty on projects spanning environmental economics, climate adaptation, forest restoration, computational modeling, environmental governance, sustainable development, wetland loss, and water quality.
Mani Nepal
Mani Nepal is Lead Economist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Senior Intervention Manager of the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE), a regional research and capacity-building network spanning ten countries across South Asia and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). An applied economist, his research focuses on in the intersection of development and environmental issues including sustainability, climate change, forest restoration, environmental governance, and natural resource management, with a strong emphasis on generating evidence to inform public policy. He has led and collaborated interdisciplinary research initiatives across South Asia and HKH, and has worked extensively with governments, universities, and international organizations. Dr. Nepal is an Associate Editor of World Development and has co-edited a book on climate resilience. Currently he is leading an edited volume focussing on climate-induced loss and damage in Asia. He is also a proud University of Illinois alumnus, having earned his M.S. in Policy Economics from Illinois.
During his residency, Dr. Nepal will interact with faculty and graduate students on research related to sustainability, environmental economics, climate adaptation, forest restoration, and climate-induced loss and damage. He will deliver seminars and lectures, mentor students, and participate in interdisciplinary workshops. He also aims to strengthen long-term collaboration between the University of Illinois, ICIMOD, and SANDEE by exploring the possibility of joint research, academic exchanges, and partnerships focused on sustainability challenges in South Asia and the Hindu Kush Himalaya. His residency will promote the exchange of knowledge and policy-relevant research on climate resilience, environmental governance, and sustainable development.
Kevin Gilmore
Kevin Gilmore is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. His research deals with the recovery of resources from waste streams, and he teaches courses in sustainability, bioprocess engineering, first-year engineering, and senior design.
During his time as a Levenick Resident Scholar at the University of Illinois, he will be working with Professors Jeremy Guest and Gal Hochman on computational modeling of aquaponics systems, while also providing mentorship to graduate students who are developing their teaching skills.
Tapan K. Sarker
Tapan Sarker is a Professor of Finance in the School of Business, Law, Humanities and Pathways at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He is an internationally recognized sustainability scholar. Dr. Sarker’s work sits at the intersection of sustainable finance, environmental governance, and policy-engaged research. His academic and leadership career has been dedicated to advancing sustainability solutions that bridge natural systems, economic decision-making, and institutional change. He has held senior academic leadership roles, including Associate Head of School (Outreach, Engagement and Inclusion), Acting Head and Dean, Discipline and Curriculum Lead, and Research Chair, and have served as Visiting Scholar or Scholar-in-Residence at institutions such as Harvard University, Keio University and Soka University in Japan, and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, India.
During his residency, Dr. Sarker will interact with faculty and graduate students on research related to sustainability, environmental economics, climate adaptation, forest restoration, and climate-induced loss and damage. He will deliver seminars and lectures, mentor students, and participate in interdisciplinary workshops. His residency will promote the exchange of knowledge and policy-relevant research on climate resilience, environmental governance, and sustainable development. He also aims to advance interdisciplinary research and engagement on AI-enabled sustainability, innovative financing for climate-resilient systems, and pathways toward inclusive and sustainable development. Drawing on his expertise in sustainable finance, climate finance, environmental governance, and policy engagement, he seeks to foster collaborative research with Illinois scholars, develop competitive funding initiatives, and translate academic knowledge into practical solutions that support resilient communities, low-carbon transitions, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nicole Karwowski
Nicole Karwowski is an Assistant Professor at Montana State University and earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research uses econometric methods, theoretical models, and remote sensing data to examine how nature-based solutions can improve agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability. Her recent work focuses on the effects of wetland restoration on agricultural productivity and water quality, with a broader goal of understanding how conservation policy can support both rural communities and environmental quality.
As a Levenick Resident Scholar, Dr. Karwowski looks forward to strengthening her existing collaborations at the University of Illinois while developing new interdisciplinary research. She currently collaborates with Dr. Marin Skidmore in the Department of Agricultural & Consumer Economics on several projects examining the ecosystem services provided by agricultural best management practices. She has also begun working with faculty and students in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences on a project investigating how wetland loss in Illinois affects water quality. Dr. Karwowski hopes to engage with local stakeholders to better connect academic research with conservation efforts in the Midwest.
