Kristina Peterson

Kristina Peterson, PhD, helped to create the Lowlander Center to address the complex social and environmental impacts of the climate crisis with the inclusion of local communities and their vast knowledge. As an applied social scientist who has spent her life as a community activist for sustainable, just communities through long-term, holistic community-based responses to disasters, she has helped create large-scale networks of community/regional responses for large national disasters, including technological-environmental, acts of racial violence, economic upheaval, and weather events. Her work within the disaster mitigation field has contributed to the creation of and being a founding board member of both the National Hazards Mitigation Association and the Gender and Disaster Network and Disaster Justice Network. With a background in theology, environmental and hazards planning, she continues to mentor interns from various universities and link them with community-led projects. She continues to work to address land stewardship, rematriation, and climate adaptation that will support healthy ecosystems. Peterson is part of the Rising Voices Changing Coast National Science Foundation Coastlines and People program. Having attended the Natural Hazards Workshop for 40 years, she honors the wisdom gleaned from all those who have gone before us and all those who work together for a more just and sustainable world.