Toddi A. Steelman

Toddi A. Steelman is an Adjunct Professor at North Carolina State University's Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources within the College of Natural Resources. Her research focuses on environmental governance, public decision-making, and the interface between science, policy, and decision-making, particularly in contexts of climate change, disaster resilience, and wildfire management. She holds a B.A. from West Virginia University (1988), an MPA from Princeton University (1992), and a Ph.D. from Duke University (1996).

Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding complex governance challenges in disaster-prone environments. Notable themes include social capital in crisis leadership, collaborative governance in multi-jurisdictional disasters, and adaptive capacities for wildfire response. Her recent publications (2025) explore the effectiveness of leadership networks during disasters and the paradoxes of pluralistic policy outcomes.

Steelman is affiliated with the Fire Chasers Project and has contributed to key journals like the International Journal of Wildland Fire and Ecology and Society. She advocates for integrating local ecological knowledge with scientific frameworks to enhance disaster preparedness and community resilience.