Andrea K. Gerlak

Faculty Website | CV
520.621.7715 | agerlak@isanet.org

Andrea K. Gerlak is Director of Academic Development with the International Studies Association, Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science, and Senior Policy Associate with the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at the University of Arizona. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Andrea had more than 10 years experience in program development, teaching, and administration, while serving on the faculty at Guilford College and Columbia University. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1991, 1992), and Ph.D. in Political Science, with a minor in Renewable Natural Resources from the University of Arizona (1997).

Andrea’s research interests are in the fields of public policy, institutional theory, natural resource management, and water governance. Broadly speaking, she studies water management and policy at multiple scales and across diverse settings. Her research addresses conditions supporting collective action, the interface between science and policy, and institutional change and adaptation in large-scale ecosystem settings in the United States. In international transboundary settings, she studies the role of intergovernmental organizations in cooperative institutional arrangements and scientific knowledge and information sharing in global water governance.

She has collaborated on projects with the Arizona Water Institute and the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona. She served as a fellow with the Natural Resources Leadership Institute at North Carolina State University, and has helped design and lead interdisciplinary environmental studies programs at both Guilford College and Columbia University. Andrea has published articles in several journals including Policy Studies Journal, Natural Resources Journal, Society & Natural Resources, PS: Political Science & Politics, Environmental Management, Publius: The Journal of Federalism, University of Denver Water Law Review, Journal of Environment and Development, Global Environmental Politics, and Water Resources Research.

As Director of Academic Development with the International Studies Association, Andrea works closely with the Regions and Sections to promote development, coordinate activities, and plan conference events.