Affiliates & Fellows
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Advancing our Mission
At its core, ODU’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience seeks to advance the practice of resilience and adaptation by working across sectors and levels of government to develop practical solutions for coastal communities. This challenging task is made possible in part through ICAR’s accomplished Affiliates and Fellows, Old Dominion University researchers from across the STEM fields, social sciences, and humanities.
Their investment of time and energy, along with their considerable research expertise, support resilience building now and for the future, and educate students and professionals to become the next generation of leaders in coastal resilience.
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ICAR Affiliates
Dr. Michael Clemons
Professor, Political Science & Geography
Dr. Erika Frydenlund
Research Associate Professor, Academic Affairs
Dr. Janice Hawkins
Assistant Professor, Ellmer School of Nursing
Dr. Victoria Hill
Assistant Professor, Ocean & Earth Sciences
Dr. Michael Pokojovy
Associate Professor of Data Science,
Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Guohui Song
Associate Professor, Mathematics & Statistics
Dr. Tancy Vandecar-Burdin
Director, Social Science Research Center
Dr. Alexis Tharpe
Education Specialist, The Center for Educational Partnerships
Dr. Wanting (Lisa) Wang
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Lida Haghnegahadar
Research Asst Professor, School of Cybersecurity
Dr. Ingo Heidbrink
Professor & Chair, Department of History
Dr. Chunqui Jiang
Professor, Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics
Lee Ellen Knight
Master Lecturer, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies
Dr. Beth Tremblay
Assistant Professor, Ellmer School of Nursing
Dr. Elizabeth Wallace
Assistant Professor, Coastal Climate Hazards Lab
Kun Xie
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Kun Xie
Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Maryam Golbazi
Research Assistant Professor, Hampton Roads Biomedical Research Consortium
Dr. Venicia Ferrell
Research Assistant Professor, The Center for Educational Partnerships
Dr. Saige Hill
Assistant Director, Internship & Co-op Success
Dr. Dalya Ismael
Assistant Professor, Engineering Technology
Dr. Athena King
Assistant Professor, Political Science & Geography
Dr. Eduardo Landaeta
Asst Dir Alumni Relations/Com Alumni Relations
Dr. Cong Wei
Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Hua Liu
Associate Professor, Political Science & Geography
ICAR Fellows
Dr. Tom Allen
Professor, Dept Head Political Science & Geography
Dr. Josh Behr
Research Professor, Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center
Dr. Mujde Erten-Unal
Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Tal Ezer
Professor, Ocean & Earth Sciences Academic Affairs
Dr. Theodore Gournelos
Associate Professor, Communication & Theatre Arts
Dr. Jennifer Whytlaw
Assistant Professor, Political Science & Geography
Dr. Ross Gore
Research Associate Professor, Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center
Dr. Steven Becker
Professor, Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Environmental Health
Dr. Leslie Hoglund
Clinical Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Environmental Health
Navid Tahvildari
Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Elizabeth River Project Fellows
Venicia Ferrell
Research Assistant Professor, Center for Educational Partnerships
Phone: 757-683-3197
Email: vferrell@odu.edu
Dr. Venicia Ferrell, a Research Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University's The Center for Educational Partnerships (TCEP), leads environmental literacy projects, including SEVEE Consortium, B-WET, and DCR initiatives. With 23 years of experience in K-12 education, she excels in integrating technology, designing curricula, and delivering professional development. Dr. Ferrell pioneered the Hampton Environmental Literacy Program, recognized by NOAA and state authorities. She presents at national, state, and regional conferences. Previously a science supervisor in Virginia, she shaped science curricula and served on the State STEM Board. Dr. Ferrell's work is dedicated to environmental education that enrich the lives of students and educators.
Phone: 757-683-3197
Email: vferrell@odu.edu
Dr. Venicia Ferrell, a Research Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University's The Center for Educational Partnerships (TCEP), leads environmental literacy projects, including SEVEE Consortium, B-WET, and DCR initiatives. With 23 years of experience in K-12 education, she excels in integrating technology, designing curricula, and delivering professional development. Dr. Ferrell pioneered the Hampton Environmental Literacy Program, recognized by NOAA and state authorities. She presents at national, state, and regional conferences. Previously a science supervisor in Virginia, she shaped science curricula and served on the State STEM Board. Dr. Ferrell's work is dedicated to environmental education that enrich the lives of students and educators.
David Robledo
Lecturer, Department of English
Phone: 757-683-5818
Email: drobledo@odu.edu
David Robledo is a community action researcher who studies interrelationships of seafood nutrition and ocean biodiversity collapse. A Fulbright research ambassador and lecturer in Technical Writing at Old Dominion University, his work builds from a career developing small-scale environmental economy in Latin-x zones. His current research project titled The Amazing Neighborhood Mollusk Adventure models sustainable aquaculture as a solution to fishery collapse, using localized scientific analysis to develop a climate theater of consumer choices to support nutrition-economic systems and coastal habitats.
Phone: 757-683-5818
Email: drobledo@odu.edu
David Robledo is a community action researcher who studies interrelationships of seafood nutrition and ocean biodiversity collapse. A Fulbright research ambassador and lecturer in Technical Writing at Old Dominion University, his work builds from a career developing small-scale environmental economy in Latin-x zones. His current research project titled The Amazing Neighborhood Mollusk Adventure models sustainable aquaculture as a solution to fishery collapse, using localized scientific analysis to develop a climate theater of consumer choices to support nutrition-economic systems and coastal habitats.
Taylor Sloey
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Phone: 757-683-3595
Email: tsloey@odu.edu
Dr. Sloey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University and the PI of the Wetland Plant and Restoration Lab. She is trained as a wetland plant ecologist and restoration ecologist who dabbles in plant ecophysiology. Her lab’s research focuses on understanding how wetland ecosystems, particularly plants, respond to environmental changes and disturbance in a context that informs restoration and management. Using field, greenhouse, and mesocosm studies, her lab explores applied research questions in ecosystems ranging from coastal marshes and mangroves to freshwater forested swamps.
Phone: 757-683-3595
Email: tsloey@odu.edu
Dr. Sloey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University and the PI of the Wetland Plant and Restoration Lab. She is trained as a wetland plant ecologist and restoration ecologist who dabbles in plant ecophysiology. Her lab’s research focuses on understanding how wetland ecosystems, particularly plants, respond to environmental changes and disturbance in a context that informs restoration and management. Using field, greenhouse, and mesocosm studies, her lab explores applied research questions in ecosystems ranging from coastal marshes and mangroves to freshwater forested swamps.
Erik Yando
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Phone: 757-818-8941(m)
Email: eyando@odu.edu
Erik Yando is a coastal and wetland ecologist who studies systems interactions and resilience with a focus on plants and soil. Trained in botany and ecology, Erik has worked in a variety of regions across the US and globe exploring marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and swamps. He received his BA from Connecticut College and his MS and PhD from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Erik has been part of ODU’s Department of Biological Sciences since 2020 where he leads the Coastal Plant and Ecotone Ecology Lab.
Phone: 757-818-8941(m)
Email: eyando@odu.edu
Erik Yando is a coastal and wetland ecologist who studies systems interactions and resilience with a focus on plants and soil. Trained in botany and ecology, Erik has worked in a variety of regions across the US and globe exploring marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and swamps. He received his BA from Connecticut College and his MS and PhD from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Erik has been part of ODU’s Department of Biological Sciences since 2020 where he leads the Coastal Plant and Ecotone Ecology Lab.
Elizabeth River Project Fellows
Venicia Ferrell
Research Assistant Professor, Center for Educational Partnerships
Phone: 757-683-3197
Email: vferrell@odu.edu
Dr. Venicia Ferrell, a Research Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University's The Center for Educational Partnerships (TCEP), leads environmental literacy projects, including SEVEE Consortium, B-WET, and DCR initiatives. With 23 years of experience in K-12 education, she excels in integrating technology, designing curricula, and delivering professional development. Dr. Ferrell pioneered the Hampton Environmental Literacy Program, recognized by NOAA and state authorities. She presents at national, state, and regional conferences. Previously a science supervisor in Virginia, she shaped science curricula and served on the State STEM Board. Dr. Ferrell's work is dedicated to environmental education that enrich the lives of students and educators.
Phone: 757-683-3197
Email: vferrell@odu.edu
Dr. Venicia Ferrell, a Research Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University's The Center for Educational Partnerships (TCEP), leads environmental literacy projects, including SEVEE Consortium, B-WET, and DCR initiatives. With 23 years of experience in K-12 education, she excels in integrating technology, designing curricula, and delivering professional development. Dr. Ferrell pioneered the Hampton Environmental Literacy Program, recognized by NOAA and state authorities. She presents at national, state, and regional conferences. Previously a science supervisor in Virginia, she shaped science curricula and served on the State STEM Board. Dr. Ferrell's work is dedicated to environmental education that enrich the lives of students and educators.
David Robledo
Lecturer, Department of English
Phone: 757-683-5818
Email: drobledo@odu.edu
David Robledo is a community action researcher who studies interrelationships of seafood nutrition and ocean biodiversity collapse. A Fulbright research ambassador and lecturer in Technical Writing at Old Dominion University, his work builds from a career developing small-scale environmental economy in Latin-x zones. His current research project titled The Amazing Neighborhood Mollusk Adventure models sustainable aquaculture as a solution to fishery collapse, using localized scientific analysis to develop a climate theater of consumer choices to support nutrition-economic systems and coastal habitats.
Phone: 757-683-5818
Email: drobledo@odu.edu
David Robledo is a community action researcher who studies interrelationships of seafood nutrition and ocean biodiversity collapse. A Fulbright research ambassador and lecturer in Technical Writing at Old Dominion University, his work builds from a career developing small-scale environmental economy in Latin-x zones. His current research project titled The Amazing Neighborhood Mollusk Adventure models sustainable aquaculture as a solution to fishery collapse, using localized scientific analysis to develop a climate theater of consumer choices to support nutrition-economic systems and coastal habitats.
Taylor Sloey
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Phone: 757-683-3595
Email: tsloey@odu.edu
Dr. Sloey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University and the PI of the Wetland Plant and Restoration Lab. She is trained as a wetland plant ecologist and restoration ecologist who dabbles in plant ecophysiology. Her lab’s research focuses on understanding how wetland ecosystems, particularly plants, respond to environmental changes and disturbance in a context that informs restoration and management. Using field, greenhouse, and mesocosm studies, her lab explores applied research questions in ecosystems ranging from coastal marshes and mangroves to freshwater forested swamps.
Phone: 757-683-3595
Email: tsloey@odu.edu
Dr. Sloey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University and the PI of the Wetland Plant and Restoration Lab. She is trained as a wetland plant ecologist and restoration ecologist who dabbles in plant ecophysiology. Her lab’s research focuses on understanding how wetland ecosystems, particularly plants, respond to environmental changes and disturbance in a context that informs restoration and management. Using field, greenhouse, and mesocosm studies, her lab explores applied research questions in ecosystems ranging from coastal marshes and mangroves to freshwater forested swamps.
Erik Yando
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Phone: 757-818-8941(m)
Email: eyando@odu.edu
Erik Yando is a coastal and wetland ecologist who studies systems interactions and resilience with a focus on plants and soil. Trained in botany and ecology, Erik has worked in a variety of regions across the US and globe exploring marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and swamps. He received his BA from Connecticut College and his MS and PhD from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Erik has been part of ODU’s Department of Biological Sciences since 2020 where he leads the Coastal Plant and Ecotone Ecology Lab.
Phone: 757-818-8941(m)
Email: eyando@odu.edu
Erik Yando is a coastal and wetland ecologist who studies systems interactions and resilience with a focus on plants and soil. Trained in botany and ecology, Erik has worked in a variety of regions across the US and globe exploring marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, and swamps. He received his BA from Connecticut College and his MS and PhD from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Erik has been part of ODU’s Department of Biological Sciences since 2020 where he leads the Coastal Plant and Ecotone Ecology Lab.
