Dr. Abbey Hotard

Bio

• Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama
• Post Doc 2024, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware
• PhD 2023, Texas A&M University at Galveston 
• MMRM 2019, Texas A&M University at Galveston 
• B.S. 2017, Louisiana State University 

Emphasis: Human dimensions of coastal adaptation and flood mitigation; coastal relocation/managed retreat; environmental justice; and social equity of policy implementation

Research Interests

My research lies at the intersection of human development and coastal hazards. Trained in both the natural and social sciences, I use a variety of methods and data sources to explore the complex relationships between people, the places in which they live and work, and the policies shaping human development and adaptation.  Focused on climate adaptation along the Gulf Coast, my recent research has explored individual perceptions of coastal hazards, coastal relocation decisions (a.k.a. “managed retreat”), and inequity within hazard mitigation policy implementation.

Publications

• Hotard, A., Ross, A.D., (2023). Home Buyout without Relocation: An Examination of Dissonant Hazard Mitigation Perceptions among Gulf Coast Residents. Risks, Hazards, Crisis in Public Policy. 
• Stanley, M. Hotard, A., Pilgreen, D., Meyer, M.A. (2023). Critical Review of National Flood Policy Outcomes. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2021-0059
• Valentine, K., Hotard, A., Quirk, T., Mariotti, G. (2022). Biofilms are important contributors to organic carbon in salt marsh sediments. Wetlands, 42(1). DOI:10.1007/s13157-021-01528-0
• Ross, A. D., Hotard, A., Kamalanathan, M., Nolen, R., Hala, D., Clay, L. A., Kaiser, K., et al. (2020). Awareness Is Not Enough: Frequent Use of Water Pollution Information and Changes to Risky Behavior. Sustainability, 12(20), 8695. MDPI AG. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12208695

Teaching

• Environmental Sciences I 
• Environmental Policy 
• Natural Resources Management