Rachel Thiet

Rachel Thiet, PhD, is a Professor and Department Chair of Environmental Studies & Sustainability at Antioch University New England. Her work bridges social science and ecology, focusing on soil microbial dynamics, coastal restoration, and interdisciplinary environmental education.

• Research: Coastal ecosystems, soil biogeochemistry, plant-invertebrate interactions.
• Teaching: Soil Ecology, Wetland Ecology, Earth Systems & Climate Change.
• Collaborations: US National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore.

Thiet emphasizes mechanistic thinking, integrating ecological processes across scales—from molecular to landscape levels. Her pedagogy fosters critical analysis, risk-taking in learning, and interdisciplinary synthesis of environmental issues with socio-political contexts.

Key research projects include long-term studies on Phragmites removal, tidal restoration effects, and soil organism roles in ecosystem sustainability. She mentors students through field-based, inquiry-driven coursework and research opportunities.