Elizabeth Koebele

Elizabeth Koebele is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Director of Graduate Studies at the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno. Her work bridges environmental policy, public administration, and qualitative/mixed methods, with a focus on collaborative governance and water management in the western United States.

• Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Studies from University of Colorado Boulder
• B.A. in English Literature and Secondary Education from Arizona State University

Koebele’s research examines how collaborative approaches influence policy processes and outcomes, particularly in water governance, disaster policy, and climate adaptation. Her work spans the Colorado River Basin, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and urban water systems in Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

Her publications in journals like Policy Studies Journal and Water Resources Research highlight trends in polycentric governance, narrative policy analysis, and sustainability transitions. She co-edits Policy & Politics and leads interdisciplinary research groups.

Awards

• 2021 NSF CAREER Award for Colorado River water governance research
• 2022 NSHE Board of Regents Rising Researcher Award

Koebele’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other institutions. She actively investigates climate governance, institutional design, and risk reduction in water policy.