Victoria Keener

Victoria Keener is a Research Professor at Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability & Innovation and a Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. As Co-Lead Principal Investigator of the NOAA-funded Pacific RISA program, she bridges climate science and policy to support Pacific Island communities in developing adaptation strategies against climate-induced risks.

Dr. Keener's educational background includes:

• PhD in Agricultural & Biological Engineering from the University of Florida (2010)
• Earth & Environmental Engineering, Columbia University Visiting PhD Graduate Scholar (2006)
• BSc in Bioengineering from Rice University (2002)

Her research integrates hydro-climatology, climate policy, and resource management with a focus on Pacific Island adaptation. She specializes in transforming climate data into actionable policies through boundary organizations that connect scientists and decision-makers, addressing critical issues like drought, sea-level rise, and climate finance.

Dr. Keener's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on Pacific Islands climate resilience, spanning regional assessments (NCA4/NCA5), sector-specific adaptation (water, urban heat, finance), and innovative methodologies like social network analysis. Her work emphasizes practical applications through guidance documents for policymakers and sustained assessment frameworks.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Senior Fellow at the East-West Center

As lead author of the Hawai‘i and Pacific Islands Chapter for NCA4 and contributor to NCA5, Dr. Keener directs the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment network while serving on Honolulu's Climate Change Commission (2018-2024). Her NOAA-funded Pacific RISA program exemplifies boundary-spanning work that generates actionable climate intelligence for island nations.

Through the Pacific RISA program and PIRCA network, she cultivates transnational teams of scientists, policymakers, and community stakeholders to co-produce climate services that address urgent Pacific Island adaptation needs across hydrological, ecological, and socioeconomic domains.