Hekia Bodwitch

Hekia Bodwitch is an Assistant Professor of Marine Policy in the Department of Social Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast. Her work bridges environmental policy and Indigenous governance, with a strong focus on community-based research and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley
• B.S. in Biology & Society, Cornell University

Her research interests include Indigenous co-governance of marine resources, fisheries and mariculture policy, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge into environmental governance. She employs ethnographic, interview, and survey-based methods, working closely with Māori, Native American, Inuit, and First Nations communities across New Zealand, California, Canada, and Southeast Alaska. Her work explores how regulatory frameworks impact collective rights and community development, and how Indigenous knowledge can gain authority in state and federal decision-making.

Though specific publications are not listed, her research spans themes in environmental policy, social justice, and climate change, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary and community-engaged approach.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

She actively collaborates with tribal leaders, NGOs, scientists, and policymakers. There is no mention of formal advising or grant funding in the text, but her research partnerships suggest active engagement in collaborative and potentially grant-funded projects. She does not appear to lead a named lab or research center, but her work is inherently team-based and transdisciplinary.