Betsy Wilkening

Tucson, Arizona

Education Outreach Coordinator, AZ Project WET – University of Arizona President – Polar Educators International

Betsy is a learner, engineer, educator, environmentalist, volunteer, wife, mom and activist. Her career has spanned jobs in industry, preK-12 classroom teaching, teacher professional development, outreach education, and community engagement. As a teacher, she had the opportunity to work and visit the Arctic, which led to becoming a founding member and now president of Polar Educators International. Betsy is a 5th generation Arizonan. Her ancestors first occupied lands of the Tohono O’Odham and Yaqui people in Tucson under the Mexican flag. Betsy’s hispanic roots run deep in the Sonoran Desert, and as members of her community are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, persistent drought and extreme storm events, she is passionate about empowering all to take action to build a more resilient community.

I believe that we can create transformational change by working together towards a shared and just future, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in a sustainable world.