Sunday, April 26, 2026, 2 – 3 p.m.
A fourth-generation Floridian, Leslie Kemp Poole explores the stories where Florida’s landscapes, history, and literature meet. She is the author of four books, including Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now (2024). In today’s talk, she shares insights from that book and from years spent reading, researching, and tracing the path of naturalist William Bartram through Florida.
About Our Speaker
Leslie Kemp Poole is associate professor of environmental studies at Rollins College in Winter Park. She earned a doctorate in history from the University of Florida in 2012. Her research on Florida’s environmental past has appeared in academic journals, documentaries, and public history programs, including the PBS films In Marjorie’s Wake (2008) and The Swamp (2019), part of the American Experience series. Earlier in her career, she worked as a reporter for several newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel, where she contributed to a national award-winning series on Florida’s lack of growth management.
