Former NC CASC Rapid Climate Assessment Program (RCAP) Graduate Research Assistant, Sarah Gonzalez Coffin, was recently appointed to a role with the First Nations Development Institute as the Director of Research and Advocacy for Native Economic Justice.

Gonzalez Coffin is a PhD candidate in social psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder, studying environmental decision making, policy support and science communication. In 2023, she worked on an RCAP project titled, “Synthesis of Social Science Related to Resource Management and Climate Change in the Great Plains.” The study synthesized social science research across the region to reveal how socio-cultural, economic, and governance factors shape grassland managers’ responses to climate change. It also identified key knowledge gaps and highlighted the importance of community-led, inclusive adaptation strategies that integrate social dynamics and underrepresented voices. This focus on equity and inclusion in environmental decision-making aligns closely with her new role advancing Native economic justice.

We wish Sarah the best in her new role!