معرفی
Rebecca J. Williams serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies and holds core faculty positions in the Master of Sustainable Development Practice and Tropical Conservation and Development programs, based in Grinter Hall, Gainesville.
Her academic credentials include:
- Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology (Tropical Conservation and Development focus) from the University of Florida
- M.S. in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University
Her research critically examines climate change-driven migration pathways and their links to violence in Central America, alongside gender-focused participatory development in indigenous communities. Methodologically grounded in qualitative and intersectional feminist frameworks, her work spans biocultural conservation, natural resource governance, and masculinities studies across Honduras and Guyana.
Williams secured USAID funding for socio-ecological systems research in Honduras revealing how climate impacts push rural populations toward migration and illicit economies (e.g., gangs, narcotrafficking), directly shaping USAID-Honduras' five-year development strategy. She actively mentors graduate students through committee service and teaches courses including Communication and Leadership for Development Practice, Facilitation Skills, and Qualitative Data Analysis.
