معرفی
Melanie Armstrong is an Associate Professor in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming and serves as Director of the Ruckelshaus Institute. Her work focuses on engaged scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and co-production of knowledge in environmental management. She holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of New Mexico and an MS in Communications from Ohio University, with postdoctoral training in environmental history and cultural geography.
Education:
- PhD, American Studies, University of New Mexico
- MS, Communications, Ohio University
Research Interests: Armstrong examines how societal systems and ideologies shape environmental management, including studies on prescribed fire practices, Native American treaty rights, and public lands stewardship. Her work bridges ethnography, historical research, and policy analysis to address socio-ecological challenges. She emphasizes community engagement, such as her leadership on the Gunnison National Forest timber sale project and the National Park Service’s digital Junior Ranger program.
Key Projects:
- Founded the Center for Public Lands at Western Colorado University (2018), fostering cross-boundary collaboration on public lands management.
- 2020 National Geographic Explorer award for research on Indigenous co-management of public lands.
- Authored/co-authored influential books on environmental politics and socio-environmental challenges.
Teaching & Mentorship: Armstrong teaches courses on public lands policy, environmental history, and management skills. She aims to cultivate critical thinking and advocacy for justice among students, emphasizing transformative classroom experiences.
