Emma M. French

Emma M. French is an incoming Assistant Professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, starting in Fall 2025. Her research and teaching focus on urban governance, climate change, and environmental justice, with a particular emphasis on community-driven solutions to ecological and social crises.

• PhD, Urban Planning, University of California Los Angeles, 2025
• Masters in City and Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017
• MS in Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2017
• BA in Environmental Analysis, Pitzer College, 2013

Emma’s research explores how frontline communities mobilize against compounding ecological and social crises. Key areas include climate justice, participatory planning, and collaborative governance. Her work challenges supremacist ideologies underpinning the climate crisis and advocates for planning as a tool for equity.

Her publications span topics such as municipal heat planning, smart city data governance, and global climate adaptation strategies. While no formal scientific awards are listed, her work has been published in journals like Environmental Research Letters and Journal of Urban Affairs.