Carol Atkinson-Palumbo

Carol Atkinson-Palumbo is an Associate Professor in the University of Connecticut’s Department of Geography and Director of UConn’s Environmental Studies program. Her research focuses on use-inspired policy-relevant studies, particularly transportation sustainability and the societal impacts of policies promoting sustainable cities. She specializes in geographical techniques including GIS-based spatial analysis, statistical modeling, and qualitative methods. An emerging research area involves analyzing how autonomous vehicles might replace or complement public transportation systems, reflected in her role on Connecticut’s Task Force on Autonomous Vehicles.

Teaching strengths include Sustainable Cities, Urban Geography, and a capstone course for Environmental Studies students emphasizing professional development. She actively contributes to equity and diversity initiatives through university service and national/international collaborations. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges urban planning, environmental science, and policy analysis.