Elyse Zavar

Elyse Zavar, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science at the University of North Texas. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Geography from Texas State University, an M.A. in Geography from UCLA, and a B.A. in Geology from the College of Wooster. Her research focuses on mixed-methods analysis of hazard mitigation, long-term disaster recovery, flood buyout programs, and community commemoration of loss, particularly examining the intersection of climate adaptation and racialized landscapes.

Dr. Zavar's work critically evaluates how historical policies like redlining influence current disaster recovery efforts, advocating for equity-centered climate adaptation. Her recent studies include analyses of post-buyout land management, pandemic impacts on heritage sites, and visual culture in disaster recovery landscapes. She contributes to interdisciplinary fields such as urban planning, environmental justice, and geospatial technologies.

Her publications span topics from post-disaster communalism to ecofeminist philosophy in disaster commemoration. Key articles include 'Fractured landscapes: The racialization of home buyout programs and climate adaptation' (2021), which argues for equitable policy frameworks addressing historical inequities. Dr. Zavar also explores biophilic design in post-buyout landscapes and the role of geographers in emergency management.

Her research emphasizes co-production of knowledge with affected communities, aiming to transform unsustainable urban landscapes into resilient spaces. She engages with policy implementation challenges, including floodplain administration and training needs in FEMA regions.