Meredith Grady
PhD Student
Arizona State University
Meredith is a PhD student in the Biology and Society Program at Arizona State University under the supervision of Dr. Leah Gerber, Dr. Duan Biggs, and Dr. Gwen Iacona. She specializes in interdisciplinary social and ecological sciences and is dedicated to exploring the intricate connections of humans and nature to advance knowledge and generate positive impact for conservation and development. Her current research focuses on assessing knowledge needs in conservation practice. Her research goal is to expand the boundaries of the scientific discipline of conservation to include bodies of knowledge that are relevant to achieving conservation’s objectives but have been traditionally excluded from conservation practice, ultimately generating more inclusive, equitable, and effective conservation outcomes.
Meredith completed her master's degree in Conservation Leadership with the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department at Colorado State University. Her graduate research focused on the ethics of engaging marginalized communities in conservation and development in Samburu, Kenya using community based participatory action research methodology. Meredith's professional background consists of over a decade of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural experiences working in government and non-profit sectors, locally and internationally, broadly focused on conservation, agriculture, and development.