Ida Djenontin

Ida Djenontin is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Pennsylvania State University's Department of Geography. She holds additional affiliations as Associate Faculty with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE), Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI), and the Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering, and Design with Africa (AESEDA). Her research focuses on human-environment interactions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, addressing sustainable development challenges through interdisciplinary methods.

• Education: Dual Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Science & Policy from Michigan State University (2021), M.Sc. in Development Practice from University of Arizona (2017), and B.Sc./M.A. in Agricultural Sciences from University of Parakou (Benin).
• Key Expertise: Environmental governance, agro-forest systems, climate adaptation/mitigation, sustainable livelihoods, equity, and knowledge co-production.

Her work integrates qualitative, quantitative, and spatial methods to develop governance frameworks for forest and landscape restoration. Recent projects emphasize balancing biodiversity conservation, socioeconomic development, and climate resilience in regions like Malawi and Burkina Faso. She has held prior roles as a Postdoctoral Research Officer at LSE's Grantham Institute and a Young Professional with the African Union Development Agency.

Dr. Djenontin collaborates with global institutions to enhance policy relevance and community engagement in restoration efforts. She actively seeks graduate students interested in climate solutions, community-based conservation, and socio-institutional governance dimensions of environmental challenges.

Her research clusters include Environmental Change and Prediction, and Population, Environment, and Governance. She advocates for decolonial approaches to environmental justice in restoration practices and emphasizes equitable outcomes through participatory methodologies.