Rachel DeMotts

Rachel DeMotts is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies & Sciences at the University of Puget Sound. Her work focuses on environmental politics in sub-Saharan Africa, examining conservation practices, human-wildlife conflicts, and gendered disparities in natural resource access. She has conducted fieldwork in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

• PhD in Environmental Studies (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005)
• MA in Environmental Studies (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000)
• BA in African Studies (Marquette University, 1995)

DeMotts investigates the socio-political dynamics of conservation initiatives, including trans-frontier protected areas, community-based tourism impacts, and gendered livelihood strategies like basket-weaving. Her research highlights tensions between conservation goals and local populations, particularly in Kazungula, Botswana.

She has received funding from the Paul G. Allen Foundation for a water and sanitation project in Botswana and serves as associate editor for The Arrow journal. Her courses include Environmental Racism, Biodiversity Studies, and interdisciplinary workshops.