Biography

Nancy, KNFP-7, has been the Director of the Research Program at the East-West Center (www.eastwestcenter.org) since 2002. Prior to joining the Center she served as the Associate Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professor of Geography at the University of Hawaii. Nancy has long been involved with the Pacific Science Association (www.pacificscience.org) a regional, interdisciplinary science organization, and she currently serves as PSA president. She has led the organization's efforts to promote women in science for over a decade. Nancy is a member of the Society of Women Geographers and has also served on the gender advisory board of the International Federation of Institutes for Advanced Study and on the founding board of the International Association for Ecology and Health. She is a past president of the Hawaii chapter of Sigma Xi and serves or has served on the editorial boards of Pacific Science, EcoHealth, and Ethics, Place and Environment. She also serves (ex-officio on the US National Research Council Committee for the Pacific Science Association, on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Eligibility Review Committee and the State of Hawaii Department of Health Committee on Climate Change and Health. She has also served on the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars Geography Advisory Committee for Fulbright Scholars, the State of Hawaii Executive Office on Ageing Policy Board on Elderly Affairs and the Board of the Hawaii Chapter of the UC Berkeley alumni association. Nancy's research has revolved around the intersection between health and the environment, exploring health and development, gender and "safe womanhood", health risks associated with climate change and globalization, and health and human security. She has over thirty years of field experience in the Pacific Islands and more recent experience in East, South and Southeast Asia. Nancy holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Geography, an interdisciplinary M.S. in Health and Medical Science, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. She was awarded an EWC annual teaching award for most outstanding instructor. She has received a number of grants, fellowships and awards, is the author of numerous professional publications, and has served as a consultant for national and international organizations.