David Casagrande

David Casagrande is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Lehigh University, with dual affiliations in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the university’s Environmental Initiative. He also serves as Research Coordinator for the Environmental Initiative and as Production Editor for the Journal of Ecological Anthropology.

• Ph.D. in Ecological Anthropology, University of Georgia
• M.F.S., Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
• B.S. in Geography, Southern Connecticut State University

Dr. Casagrande’s research integrates ecological anthropology with public policy, focusing on human responses to disasters, climate change adaptation, and sustainability. His work spans Marcellus Shale gas development, Tzeltal Maya ethnobotany, and urban socio-ecological systems in the American Southwest. He emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, working with natural scientists, engineers, and policy experts to bridge cultural and environmental divides.

The articles he has published reflect a consistent focus on flood resilience (e.g., Mississippi River studies), resource extraction impacts (Marcellus Shale), and cultural models of environmental perception. His methodological interests include cognitive dissonance, social network analysis, and ethnographic approaches to ecological challenges.

Scientific awards include

• Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017)
• Williamson Award for Social Research (2015)
• Connecticut Sea Grant Fellowship
• University of Georgia Graduate Assistantships
• James L. Goodwin Scholarship

He has advised numerous interdisciplinary projects and is deeply engaged in community-led environmental initiatives, such as the West River Watershed restoration. Dr. Casagrande also practices sustainable living on his 8-acre homestead in Pennsylvania, integrating green building and organic farming into his personal and academic work.