Ash Enrici

Ash Enrici serves as Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and holds the McKinney Family Fellowship in Environmental Resilience and Philanthropy. Her work defines environmental philanthropy as a mosaic of intentional practices rooted in diverse traditions, aiming to advance well-being for all beings through interconnectedness with life-sustaining ecosystems.

Education:

• PhD in Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland (2016)
• Master of Applied Arts in Anthropology, University of Maryland (2010)
• B.A. in Anthropology, Purdue University (2003)

Dr. Enrici investigates how donors can support climate change mitigation and conservation more effectively, with current projects leveraging dive tourism for coral reef restoration. Employing collaborative knowledge co-production, ethnography, and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), she examines storytelling as a catalyst for environmental change. Her global fieldwork spans Indonesia, Fiji, Palau, and the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, emphasizing community-centered approaches to ocean conservation.

Analysis of her publications reveals dominant themes in marine conservation governance, environmental justice, and philanthropic foundation roles. Key trends include responsible exit strategies in conservation funding, REDD+ implementation challenges in Indonesia, and urban coastal flooding adaptation with equity considerations—demonstrating consistent focus on donor effectiveness within ecological systems.

Scientific Awards:

• McKinney Family Fellow of Environmental Resilience and Philanthropy

Dr. Enrici's advisory work integrates global perspectives on climate adaptation, though formal student lists aren't published. Her collaborative grants span environmental justice initiatives like Boston metropolitan coastal flooding studies and Chesapeake Bay community resilience projects. As a certified freediving instructor since 2015 and mother of two, she bridges academic rigor with practical ocean advocacy, fostering human-environment connections through immersive experiences.

Her research teams operate across international field sites, with recent work co-designed with Indonesian, Fijian, and Palauan communities. Future directions emphasize scaling coral reef restoration through tourism partnerships and developing metrics for equitable climate adaptation funding.