Andrea K. Gerlak

About

Andrea K. Gerlak is a Professor in the School of Geography, Development and Environment at the University of Arizona, holding a joint appointment as a Research Professor at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy. Her research agenda examines the causes of and innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. She is particularly interested in how to better design institutions to promote adaptive, flexible policies that improve human and ecosystem well-being, and that produce fair and equitable decisions. Gerlak has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications, including three books, and serves as a senior fellow with the Earth System Governance network. She currently serves on the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona’s Water Conservation Grant Committee and the City of Tucson’s Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee. Her expertise has been sought in water governance and climate resilience efforts for organizations such as UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization. She partners with local city, county, and environmental organizations to inform policy. Prior to her current roles, she served as the director of academic development with the International Studies Association and has over two decades of experience in building, administering, and teaching interdisciplinary environmental studies programs at Guilford College and Columbia University.

Research topics

• Business
• Environmental planning
• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Social Science
• Sociology
• Geography
• Public administration
• Public relations
• Environmental science

Selected publications

• Urban resilience and green infrastructure systems: towards a multidimensional evaluation

  Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability · 2020 · 120 citations

  DOI

• The unjust distribution of urban green infrastructure is just the tip of the iceberg: A systematic review of place-based studies

  Environmental Science & Policy · 2021 · 72 citations

  DOI

• Agency in Earth System Governance

  Cambridge University Press eBooks · 2020 · 49 citations

  The modern era is facing unprecedented governance challenges in striving to achieve long-term sustainability goals and to limit human impacts on the Earth system. This volume synthesizes a decade of multidisciplinary research into how diverse actors exercise authority in environmental decision making, and their capacity to deliver effective, legitimate and equitable Earth system governance. Actors from the global to the local level are considered, including governments, international organizatio…

  DOI

• “Enough is enough, we like our farms”: The role of landscape ideology in shaping perceptions of solar energy and agrivoltaics in the rural American Southwest

  Journal of Rural Studies · 2025-01-13 · 19 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Learning for Environmental Governance

  Cambridge University Press eBooks · 2024-04-22 · 13 citations

  book1st authorCorresponding

  Learning is critical for our capacity to govern the environment and adapt proactively to complex and emerging environmental issues. Yet, underlying barriers can challenge our capacity for learning in environmental governance. As a result, we often fail to adequately understand pressing environmental problems or produce innovative and effective solutions. This Element synthesizes insights from extensive academic and applied research on learning around the world to inform both research and practic…

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Zack Guido

  44 shared

• Christina Greene

  University of Arizona

  41 shared

• Katharine L. Jacobs

  41 shared

• Simon J. Mason

  La Trobe University

  39 shared

• Chris Knudson

  University of Hawaii at Hilo

  39 shared

• Diana Liverman

  University of Arizona

  39 shared

• James L. Buizer

  University of Arizona

  38 shared

• Catherine Vaughan

  Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

  38 shared

Education

• PhD, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy

  University of Arizona

Awards & honors

• Senior Fellow with the Earth System Governance network
• Water Conservation Grant Committee of the Water Infrastructu…
• Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee of the City of Tucson

Similar researchers at University of Arizona

• Jennifer Masonh-79
• Kevin Anchukaitish-78
• Greg Barron-Gaffordh-47