Deidre Peroff

Deidre Peroff is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Social Science Outreach Specialist with Wisconsin Sea Grant. She holds a Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University (2016), an M.S. in Geography from Western Washington University (2009), and a B.S. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2003). Her research focuses on equitable natural resource conservation, agritourism’s role in rural livelihoods, and community-centered coastal resilience. She bridges social science methods with environmental stewardship to address water access, climate communication, and resilient coastal communities. Her work emphasizes inclusive approaches in Great Lakes restoration and policy design.

Education:

• Ph.D., North Carolina State University (2016): Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management
• M.S., Western Washington University (2009): Geography
• B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (2003): Geography-People and the Environment

Her research interests include:
- Agritourism’s impact on rural economies and stewardship - Climate communication strategies with vulnerable populations - Indigenous-led conservation and cultural ecosystems - Social equity in coastal resource management - Policy evaluation for wildlife and aquaculture systems

Recent Publications Trends: Recent work highlights community engagement in Great Lakes restoration, climate communication with marginalized communities, and evaluating policies for endangered species conservation. She frequently collaborates with NGOs and policymakers to translate research into actionable strategies.

Grants & Outreach: Leads Sea Grant’s community-engaged internship programs and collaborates with Healing Our Waters Coalition on ecosystem management. Her role emphasizes bridging academic research with grassroots initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the Great Lakes Research Facility, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to water resource challenges.