About Courtney

I am a professor of natural resource policy and governance. My research agenda focuses on how policies and other aspects of governance mediate the effective integration of scientific information into decision-making and guide how science is balanced with political goals and public preferences. I am currently investigating the development and design of adaptive governance institutions to tackle planning and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty and complexity. I bring my expertise in political science to my investigation of these issues, along with a background in legal analysis and biological sciences. I have conducted research on large-scale wildlife conservation planning, the development of monitoring and adaptive management plans by federal agencies, and various aspects of forest restoration policy. Currently, my students and I are investigating the governance of landscape-scale forest restoration projects, the integration of climate change and resilience considerations into forest planning, the role of citizen science programs within public land agencies, multi-scale monitoring strategies, and aspects of fire management policy. Our work is grounded in the public administration, adaptive governance, and science-policy literatures. If you are interested in working with me, please email me with a CV and a letter explaining your research interests and interest in my research group specifically.

Website Google Scholar Profile CV

Interests

  • Adaptive Management
  • Adaptive Resource Management
  • Citizen Science
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Governance
  • Integrated Resource Management
  • Policy
  • Regulatory Issues

Education

Ph.D., Forestry - University of Montana
Missoula, MT, 2009

M.S., Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development - University of Maryland
College Park, MD, 2004

B.A., International Relations - Stanford University
Stanford, CA, 1997

Awards, Honors, Grants

  • CSU Graduate Student Council Advising and Mentorship Award, 2016
  • Warner College of Natural Resources Teacher of the Year, 2014

Web Links

Research Gate Profile