Dr. Mel Michelle Lewis (they/she) is an environmental arts & humanities thought leader, scholar, writer, and transdisciplinary artist deeply committed to amplifying critical voices and creative visions for structural change, sustainable practice, environmental justice, and social transformation. Rooted in the Gulf South’s folklore, dialect, foodways, music, and landscapes, Dr. Mel’s creative work explores nature writing themes in rural coastal settings through the lens of Black, Creole, AfroIndigenous, and queer knowledges. Their book Biomythography Bayou is available via The Griot Project Book Series at Bucknell University Press. Their forthcoming poetry and installation arts project Waterbody is supported by American Bird Conservancy‘s Afrofuturism Collective and Re:wild. Dr. Mel is the inaugural Executive Curator of Root to Flourish Collective, promoting interconnectedness between people and nature. Their work ensures systemically marginalized voices are central to shaping the future of environmental stewardship. They are also Lead Coach & Consultant with The Art of Change Agency, supporting just, meaningful, and joyful ways of working, leading, writing, and creating. They teach social and environmental justice inquiry at Maryland Institute College of Art and serve as a board director with Orion Magazine, River Network, and Greens REALIGN.