Anna Trugman

Anna Trugman is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Graduate Programs in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She holds a BS from Stanford University, a PhD from Princeton University, and completed a USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, particularly how water availability and temperature affect ecosystem resilience, carbon sequestration, and tree mortality. Her work integrates numerical models with observational data to understand large-scale ecological responses.

• Educations: BS in Geological and Environmental Sciences (Stanford), PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Princeton), Postdoc in Biological Sciences (University of Utah).
• Roles: Associate Professor (UCSB, 2019–present), Vice Chair for Graduate Programs.

Research emphasizes drought stress, forest mortality dynamics, and remote sensing applications. Her Trugman Lab (GROVE) explores forest-climate interactions using Earth system modeling. Current advisees include five graduate students.

Publications span topics like hydraulic stress thresholds, climate-driven disturbances, and policy frameworks for carbon sequestration. She advocates for rigorous nature-based climate solutions and critiques carbon offset programs.