معرفی
Thomas Smucker is a Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Geography at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. He is based in Clippinger Hall on the Athens Campus and is affiliated with International Studies, African Studies, and International Development Studies programs.
His research centers on human-environment interactions in East Africa, with a focus on climate change adaptation, food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental governance. He integrates local knowledge systems and political economy frameworks to understand vulnerability and resilience in African drylands. His interdisciplinary work is supported by NSF-funded projects including EACLIPSE and LKCCAP.
Dr. Smucker teaches courses in human geography, development, food security, and environmental change. His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on gender, governance, and community-based adaptation. He has contributed to the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report as a Contributing Author and currently serves as Editor of the Research in International Studies, Africa Series at Ohio University Press.
- Advising and Mentoring Award, Center for International Studies, 2021
- Grasselli Brown Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Arts and Sciences, 2021
He mentors master’s students conducting field research in Ghana, the Gambia, Kenya, Tanzania, India, and Brazil. His advising emphasizes field-based, interdisciplinary inquiry into development and environmental challenges. He has been involved in projects supported by the National Science Foundation and other international research initiatives.
Dr. Smucker’s research is deeply collaborative, often involving multi-institutional teams and local stakeholders. His work on the convergence of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and land restoration highlights institutional innovation under devolved governance in Kenya. He is committed to centering non-climatic drivers in vulnerability analysis and advancing social justice in environmental policy.
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