David Hondula

David Hondula is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University's School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, with affiliations to the Urban Climate Research Center and Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research Program. He also serves as the Director of Heat Response and Mitigation for the City of Phoenix since 2021. His research focuses on extreme heat and power failure impacts, emphasizing community resilience strategies. Hondula holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia (2013), with postdoctoral experience at ASU’s Center for Policy Informatics. He is an editorial board member for Environmental Health Perspectives and a member of the American Meteorological Society's Board on Environment and Health. Awards include the 2016 Arizona State University Geography Professor of the Year and the 2014 Tromp Scientific Award. His work integrates urban climate science with public health policy, addressing climate justice and infrastructure resilience through interdisciplinary partnerships.

Key research interests include environmental hazards, climate adaptation, and urban heat mitigation. He collaborates with local governments to develop heat action plans and evaluates resilience strategies using NASA Earth observations and LiDAR. Hondula has spearheaded initiatives like HeatReady Neighborhoods and the Phoenix Heat Response Office, focusing on equitable climate adaptation. His grants include NSF awards for infrastructure resilience (e.g., #1737617, #1635490) and urban sustainability projects. Teaching includes courses on geographic research methods, environmental policy, and resilience planning.

Awards highlight his contributions to applied climatology and education, including the 2013 Raven Award and multiple fellowships. His service extends to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and global climate assessment panels. Recent publications emphasize novel heat exposure metrics, cooling center effectiveness, and compounding risks of extreme heat and air pollution.