Melissa Beresford

Melissa Beresford is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at San Jose State University, specializing in economic and ecological anthropology. Her research focuses on social responses to water insecurity, utilizing ethnographic, community-based, and participatory methods across California and globally. She integrates cross-cultural analysis to explore how norm-based institutions and social infrastructure enable adaptation to environmental challenges.

Research Highlights:

• Developing frameworks for measuring household water insecurity (HWISE-USA)
• Analyzing ethical dimensions of decentralized water systems
• Pioneering participatory convergence methodologies for stakeholder engagement
• Investigating intersections of water scarcity, mental health, and social equity

Scientific Recognition:

• Recipient of the NSF CAREER Award (2022)
• Leading global teams to bridge ethnographic insights with climate policy

Contact: melissa.beresford@sjsu.edu | ORCID: 0000-0002-5707-3943