#SESVR2020 Keynote Speakers Announced

Top (L to R): Ken Graham, Kim Klockow-McClain Bottom (L to R): Janice Dean, Brad Panovich

At the chapter meeting held on October 29, President Alex Forbes announced the keynote speakers for the upcoming 18th Annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium: Ken Graham, Kim Klockow-McClain, Janice Dean, and Brad Panovich.

​Ken Graham is the director of the National Hurricane Center and a Mississippi State University graduate. Prior to moving to Miami, Graham was the Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service in New Orleans/Baton Rouge. He has also served at Systems Operations Chief at NWS Southern Region Headquarters and Chief of Meteorological Services at NWS Headquarters. Graham received a Bachelor’s of Atmospheric Science Degree at the University of Arizona, and attended Mississippi State University where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Geosciences.

Kim Klockow-McClain is a research scientist and the societal applications coordinator for the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS). She additionally serves as the group lead for the newly formed Societal Impacts Group within the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). Kim’s research applies behavioral science methods to address pressing issues in the management of weather and climate risk, especially in the communication of forecast uncertainty and response to hazardous weather warnings. In her other roles, Kim coordinates multidisciplinary research projects and works to build new capacity for the conduct and implementation of social scientific research. She completed her Ph.D. in human/hazards geography from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 2013 and also holds an M.S. in professional meteorology from OU and B.S. degrees in economics and synoptic meteorology from Purdue University.

Janice Dean is the senior meteorologist for FOX News Channel. In addition, she is the morning meteorologist for FNC’s FOX & Friends (weekdays 6-9AM/ET). She joined the network in January 2004. During her time at the network, Janice covered a slew of devastating storms including: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Sandy, Irene, Igor, Earl and Katrina. In addition to her role at FOX News, Dean is the author of “Freddy the Frogcaster,” a series of children’s books tailored towards teaching the weather. Most recently, Janice donated all of the earnings from her book to Team Rubicon, an organization dedicated to providing disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters. Dean recently published "Mostly Sunny: How I Learned to Keep Smiling Through the Rainest Days." Dean holds degrees from Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology and Mississippi State University. 

Brad Panovich is the chief meteorologist at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, NC. Panovich is known on #wxtwitter as @wxbrad, pioneering new ways to communicate information to the general public. He joined WCNC in 2003 from WWL-TV in New Orleans. Even though he left in 2003, Panovich helped WWL with their coverage of one of the worst hurricanes in United States history, Hurricane Katrina.  Shortly after, he also helped with Hurricane Rita. Prior to working in New Orleans, Panovich held jobs in Dayton, OH and Traverse City, MI. He has his bachelor's degree in atmospheric sciences from Ohio State University. 

The 18th Annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium is set to be held on March 21-22, at Memorial Hall on the campus of Mississippi State University. Registration will open within the next week. 

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