Abigail York

Abigail York is a Professor of Governance and Public Policy and Director of Research at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change. She holds additional roles as Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Global Futures Initiative, Co-Director of the Earth Systems Science for the Anthropocene program, and Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes and Melikian Center. Her research focuses on governance of socio-ecological systems, climate change adaptation, and Indigenous knowledge co-production in the Arctic. York has secured over $52 million in grants and leads transdisciplinary teams addressing environmental challenges through community-centered approaches.

York earned her PhD in Public Policy from Indiana University and B.A. in Economics from Knox College. She has mentored over 200 scholars through the ESSA graduate initiative and directed the Environmental Social Science PhD program. Her work emphasizes training future environmental leaders and expanding access to research opportunities for undergraduate students, particularly through ASU's Online Programs.

Key research areas include urban sustainability, water governance in the American West, and polycentric governance frameworks. York serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Global Environmental Change (impact factor 8.6) and authored the Social Systems Chapter for the U.S. Sixth National Climate Assessment. She has published 75 peer-reviewed articles, with recent emphasis on Arctic adaptation, sea ice co-production, and community resilience in resource-dependent regions.

York's grants include NSF-funded projects on shale-dependent communities ($351k PI), urban ecology ($1.1M Co-PI), and premodern city governance ($405k Co-PI). She advises students through courses like SOS 596 (Capstone) and ESS 513 (Institutions), blending empirical research with policy training. Her lab fosters collaboration across disciplines and communities to address complex environmental challenges.