My graduate thesis project involved evaluating policy actor collaboration across the Charleston area as it relates to sea-level rise planning, hazard mitigation, and climate adaptation. This project was designed to incorporate my foundation of communication and interest in stakeholder interactions, and to build on valuable skills such as survey questionnaire development, social science data collection, and using science-based information for decision-making. This project applied my knowledge of governance systems and examined the network to address policy discrepancies and identify opportunities for potential partnerships moving forward. This required working to connect many different entities across sectors to consider climate adaptation strategies, including through assessment of nature-based solutions and restoration efforts.
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Looking to do some heavy reading? You can access my full thesis manuscript to the left.
Other Classwork
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Vulnerability Assessment
As part of a course I took in my first semester, called 'Case Studies in Applied Resilience', I worked with a team that communicated with stakeholders and municipalities to conduct a local vulnerability assessment for water-related hazards and deliver recommendations to the community for a path forward. Our team identified the following four hazards as priority focus areas: sea-level rise, major rain events, hurricanes, and earthquakes. I was responsible for the major rain events segment and introduction, as well as designing and formatting the final report. To view my section, please click the link below or contact me for the complete report.
Sea-Level Rise and Resilience
In 2020, my choice to enroll at College of Charleston was largely due to my interest in coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Many of my classes during the program focused on coastal management, hazard mitigation, and adaptation strategies for natural resources. In 'Managing Resilience Landscapes', I produced the presentation to the right, which outlined both the social and environmental histories of the Charleston area, and how they have contributed to the current landscape and societal challenges.
As mentioned above, my graduate thesis focused on these same resilience-related topics. In semesters prior to completing my thesis, I diversified my perspective by completing courses in many of the various disciplines that comprise environmental studies. I learned the complexity of governance systems and the policy process through courses such as ‘Governance of Social-Ecological Systems’ and ‘Public Policy’. In electives such as ‘Managing Resilient Landscapes’ and ‘Biodiversity Management’, I explored the theoretical backgrounds and the development of natural resource management strategies.
