Elizabeth Albright

Elizabeth Albright is the Dan and Bunny Gabel Associate Professor of the Practice of Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Environmental Management at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. She chairs the Environmental Economics and Policy division and holds the Dan and Bunny Gabel Chair of Environmental Ethics. Her research focuses on policy responses to extreme climatic events, water resource management decision-making, and policy learning during crises. Albright’s work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, a Fulbright Scholarship, and Purdue University, among others. She has been recognized with the 'Best Paper by an Emerging Scholar' award from the Midwest Political Science Association.

Albright’s academic background includes a D.R. (likely Doctorate) from Duke University (2009). Prior to her Ph.D., she worked in water resource management for the State of North Carolina. Her geographic research focuses include the U.S. Southeast and Central/Eastern Europe.

Her recent grants include leadership roles in the NSF-funded Center for Innovation in Risk-analysis for Climate Adaptation and Decision-making (CIRCAD) and a study on agroecosystem resilience in Tajikistan. Her research integrates environmental governance, public health, and disaster resilience, with a focus on pandemic policy responses (e.g., vaccine uptake, mask-wearing behavior) and flood recovery frameworks. She also explores transboundary climate policy challenges and comparative case studies like the Netherlands and Hungary.

Albright’s publications analyze policy learning during crises, disaster-driven governance changes, and community recovery strategies. Her work bridges environmental ethics, political science, and practical policy implementation, emphasizing actionable solutions for sustainable environmental management.