Our People

Christine Shepard

Director of Science, Gulf of Mexico

Florida

director of science for The Nature Conservancy in the Gulf of Mexico

Areas of Expertise

Coastal risk and resilience, climate change, conservation science, marine spatial planning

Contact

Christine Shepard
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Biography

Christine Shepard, Ph.D., is the director of science for the Gulf of Mexico program.

Christine’s primary research focuses on assessing coastal hazards risk, quantifying the role coastal habitats play in reducing risk, and identifying where ecosystem-based approaches such as conservation or restoration are likely to be effective for risk reduction. In addition, Christine works to develop innovative spatial analyses and community engagement tools to help decision makers address coastal risks from climate change and coastal hazards like storms and sea-level rise. She co-authored the 2012 World Risk Report in partnership with United Nations University and was a member of the Department of Interior’s Strategic Science Working Group "Operational Group Sandy" deployed to assist the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force.

Christine completed her Ph.D. in Ocean Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2010 and her B.S. in Zoology and Psychology at the University of Florida in 2002.

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