Ríobart É. (Rob) Breen

Dr. Ríobart É. Breen is the director of the Institute for Transformational and Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation (ITECA), which is dedicated to leading transformational climate change adaptation by fostering climate justice and equity, advancing nature-based solutions and behavior-based solutions, and preparing the next generation of climate change leaders, especially through community engagement and service learning. He is also a lecturer and academic advisor for the Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy program. He has served as the lead for the climate adaptation team for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change and as an environmental policy analyst for the Ocean and Great Lakes unit at the New York State Coastal Management Program. Dr. Breen’s interdisciplinary work addresses complex “wicked problems” of adaptive, resilient, and sustainable community transitions in the face of anthropogenic climate disruption and hyper-development, with a focus on biodiversity conservation, urban and community forestry, coastal watershed management, collaborative adaptive governance, and generational equity. He holds a MA and PhD in environmental and natural resources policy and administration. He is the creator of the EarthQuest climate change scenario and simulation ecogame, is a fellow with the Anam Circle ecoregional think tank, and directed the White Mountain Youth Corps and Coconino Rural Environment Corps. He is also founder of the community-based nonprofit Anam Earth Center for Sustainability and Culture. Dr. Breen lives at Glendara Homestead with his family and applies regenerative agroecology and sustainable living practices.

Research Interests

• Natural resources policy and planning
• Environmental policy and planning
• Climate change adaptation and resilience
• Ecosystem-based adaptation and nature-based solutions
• Environmental governance and leadership
• Sustainability
• Climate Justice and environmental equity
   

Courses Taught

• AGOG 630/ABIO 630 Topics in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy
• APLN 539/ABIO 530B Biodiversity and Conservation: Policy Issues
• AGOG634/ABIO634/APLN634 Ecosystem-based Management and Climate Adaptation
• AGOG530/ APLN585 Topics: Sustainable Watershed Management
• AGOG 530 /APLN 585 / RPAD 692 Topics: Natural Resources Governance and Innovation