Melinda M. Adams

Dr. Melinda M. Adams is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science and Indigenous Studies at the University of Kansas. A member of the N’dee San Carlos Apache Tribe, her work focuses on Indigenous-led cultural fire practices, combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge with environmental science. She holds a BS from Haskell Indian Nations University, MS from Purdue University, and PhD from UC Davis.

Her research examines plant and soil responses to cultural fire, emphasizing climate adaptation and wildfire mitigation. Key areas include pyrogeography, Indigenous methodologies, and environmental justice. She has secured grants from NSF EPSCoR, KU Office of Research, and the Sloan Foundation. Notable awards include the Indigenous Data Sovereignty Fellowship and Switzer Environmental Fellowship.

Dr. Adams mentors students like MK Kerron (Wichita and Affiliated Tribes) and Celina Hall (Ho-Chunk Nation), focusing on Indigenous fire stewardship and GIS analytics. She has conducted cultural burns across California and the Midwest, collaborating with over 130 Tribal Nations. Her work bridges science and Indigenous epistemologies, advocating for data sovereignty in fire research.

Publications include studies on cultural fire ecology, climate policy, and environmental justice, with a focus on decolonizing fire science. She is also featured in media such as NPR and PBS for her advocacy of Indigenous fire practices as climate solutions.