Rebecca K. Zarger

Rebecca K. Zarger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of South Florida (USF). She is also a Research Affiliate of the USF Water Institute, School of Global Sustainability, and Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

• Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Georgia (2000), B.A. in Anthropology and English from Wake Forest University.

Her research focuses on sociocultural anthropology, environmental anthropology, ethnoecology, and political ecology of water. She examines how environmental knowledge is transmitted through childhood experiences, particularly in Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya communities in Belize, and explores urban environmental challenges like water redistribution, wetland degradation, and urban forestry in Tampa Bay.

Key projects include the NSF-funded ULTRA-Ex program studying water policy impacts in Tampa Bay, the TEACHA project developing Maya environmental curricula in Belize, and recent work on urban forest equity in Tampa. Her publications highlight intersections of climate change, wastewater politics, and community-driven solutions.

• Scientific Awards: NSF/Every Page Foundation Ocean Decade Champion (2024).

She mentors graduate students and integrates field research, service learning, and community engagement into her courses, including seminars on environmental anthropology, climate change, and ethnographic methods. Collaborations with institutions like Southwest Florida Water Management District and Alleghany Franciscan Ministries demonstrate her commitment to applied research and public dialogue.