Melissa McCracken

Melissa McCracken is an Assistant Professor of International Environmental Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, holding the William R. Moomaw Professorship in International Environment and Resource Policy. She directs the Shared Waters Lab and co-directs the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, while affiliating with the Center for International Law and Governance. Her research focuses on transboundary water management, conflict transformation, and Sustainable Development Goal 6 implementation. McCracken holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Oregon State University, an M.Sc. in Water Security from the University of East Anglia, and a B.S. in General Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Her work explores effective transboundary water cooperation frameworks, hydropolitical dynamics, and freshwater agreements. Recent research emphasizes defining cooperation effectiveness and monitoring conflict/cooperation trends. McCracken collaborates with the Transboundary Freshwater Diplomacy Database and has published extensively on water diplomacy and governance. She teaches courses on global water security, environmental problem-solving, and policy frameworks at The Fletcher School.

Melissa’s interdisciplinary approach bridges technical and policy solutions for water resources, addressing climate change adaptation and geopolitical stability. Her Shared Waters Lab advances research on transboundary water systems, while her academic leadership positions drive innovation in international environmental policy education and practice.