Theresa SelfaProfessor and Associate Chair
220 Baker Lab
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-470-6835
tselfa@esf.edu
Education
PhD, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Development Sociology.
MCP, UC Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, City and Regional Planning.
BA, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA. English Literature.
Office Hours Fall 2020
Please contact me by email for an online appointment, at tselfa@esf.edu
Research Interests
Politics of Agrifood Systems and Agricultural Biotechnology
Environmental Governance
Sustainability Certification and Labelling
Social Dimensions of Food-Energy-Water Systems
US and Latin America
Current Graduate Advisees
Current Graduate Advisees
Ashmita Das
adas09@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: MS
- Graduate Advisor(s): Selfa and Diemont
- Area of Study: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
- Undergraduate Institution: SUNY Binghamton
Jesica Munoz Leon
jamunozl@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: MS in Environmental Studies
- Graduate Advisor(s): Selfa
- Undergraduate Institution: Autonomous University of Baja
Moory Romero Fernandez
mmromero@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Selfa and Sonnenfeld
- Area of Study: ESC Environ & Natural Resources Policy
- Previous Graduate Study: Pontifical Catholic University, Rio de Janeiro (Environmental Geography)
Doctoral Research Topic
Water Scarcity and Intercultural Engagement in Times of Climate Change: A Political Ecology Approach to Plurinational Citizenship in the Bolivian Andes
Journal articles
- Ryan SJ, Lippi CA, Carlson CJ, Stewart-Ibarra AM, Borbor-Cordova MJ, Romero MM, Cox S, Mahon R, Trotman A, Rollock L, Gittens-St. Hilaire M, King D, Daniel S. 2018. "Zika virus outbreak, Barbados, 2015 – 2016," American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 98(6): 1857.
- Stewart-Ibarra AM, Hargrave A, Diaz A, Kenneson A, Madden D, Romero MM, Molina JP, Macias Salto D. 2017. "Psychological distress and Zika, dengue, and chikungunya symptoms following the 2016 earthquake in Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador," Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 14(12): 1516.
- Ryan SJ, Carlson CJ, Stewart-Ibarra AM, Borbor-Cordova MJ, Romero MM, Cox S, Mahon R, Trotman A, St. Ville S, Ahmed S. 2017. "Zika virus outbreak, Dominica, 2016," Emerging Infectious Diseases 23(11): 1926.
Andres Mauricio Urcuqui Bustamante
aurcuqui@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Selfa
- Area of Study: Human Dimensions of the Environment
Andrea Michelle Viera Romero
avieraro@syr.edu
- Degree Sought: PHD
- Graduate Advisor(s): Selfa
- Area of Study: Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
- Previous Graduate Study: Universitat Potsdam (Global Public Policy)
Graduate Research Topic
An Overview of Ecuador´s Production Patterns to Inform Sustainable Development Governance
Research Interests
Sustainable Development, Governance, Sustainable Business Practices, Latin America
Courses Taught
Undergraduate: Environment and Society; Social Processes and the Environment
Graduate: Environment and Social Theory; Qualitative Research Methods
Current and Recently Completed Research Projects
Current
How Competing Sociotechnical Imaginaries Shape Trust and Governance of Gene Editing in Agriculture and Food: A Cross Country Comparison. NSF Science & Technology Studies Program, 2020-2023. Three Year PhD Position Available starting Jan. 2021. (Learn More)
Restoration Science Center, SUNY ESF Discovery Grant, 2019-2022.
Identifying Gaps in Public Trust and Governance Recommendations for Gene Edited Foods. USDA NIFA, Social Implications of Emerging Technologies. June 2018-May 2020. Link to Project Website: https://geneeditedfoods.soc.iastate.edu/
Recently Completed
Experimental Frameworks for Evaluating Net Effects of Hydrologic Service Payments on Coupled Social-Ecohydrological Systems in Mexico. NSF CNH. Jan. 2014-Sept. 2019.
The Role of Citizen Science in Watershed Hydrology Research: Relationships between Volunteer Motivations, Data Quantity and Quality, and Decision-Making. NSF CBET EAGER. Jan. 2017- Dec. 2018.
Sustainability, Ecosystem Services, and Forest-Related Bioenergy Development across the Americas. NSF PIRE. Oct. 2012-Sept. 2018.
Lake Ontario Basin Agriculture in the Coming Decades: Room for expansion or imminent future regional water conflict? USDA AFRI Water for Agriculture Challenge Grant. May 2015-Dec. 2017.
Northeast Woody Warm Season Biomass Consortium Energy and Biofuels production for Distributed Generation. USDA CAP. Aug. 2012-July 2017.
Recent Publications
ORCID Record: ORCID
ResearchGate: ResearchGate Profile
Velardi , S. & T. Selfa. 2020. Framing local: an analysis of framing strategies for genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling initiatives in the northeastern U.S, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, DOI: 10.1080/21683565.2020.1818159
Bain, C., S. Lindberg, and T. Selfa. 2019. Emerging Sociotechnical Imaginaries for Gene Edited Foods in the United States: Implications for Governance. Agriculture and Human Values https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09980-9.
Cordoba, D., L. Juen, T. Selfa, A. Peredo, L. Montaga, M. Santos, and D. Gobbo. 2019. Understanding local perceptions of the impacts of large-scale oil palm plantations on ecosystem services in the Brazilian Amazon. Journal of Forest Policy and Economics Vol. 109
Eaton, W., M. Burnham, K. Running, C. Clare Hinrichs, and T. Selfa. 2019. "Symbolic meanings, landowner support, and dedicated bioenergy crops in the rural northeastern United States." Energy Research and Social Science 52: 247-257.
Jones, K., S. Avila, E. Pischke, J. Salcone, D. Torrez, T. Selfa, and K. Halvorsen. 2019. “Examining Participation and Human Well-being Outcomes of Payments for Hydrological Services Programs in Mexico.” Ecolystem Services Vol. 35: 32-42.
Nava-Lopez, M.*, T. Selfa, D. Cordoba, E. Pischke, D. Torrez, S. Ávila-Foucat, K. Halvorsen, and C. Maganda. 2018. “Decentralizing Payments for Watershed Services programs in Veracruz, Mexico: Challenges and Implications for Long Term Sustainability.” Society and Natural Resources. Published online 4 June 2018.
Eaton, W., M. Burnham, C. Clare Hinrichs, T. Selfa, and S. Yang. 2018. “How do socio-cultural factors shape landowner support for local bioenergy crop production and willingness to grow perennial bioenergy crops in mixed-use landscapes.” Landscape and Urban Planning 175: 195-204.
Abrams, J., E. Nielsen, D. Diaz, T. Selfa, E. Adams, J. Dunn, and C. Moseley. 2018. “Why do states embrace non-state forest governance models? Evidence from sustainability certification in the US and Argentina.” Global Environmental Politics 18(3): 66-85.
Cordoba, D., T. Selfa, J. Abrams and D. Sombra. 2018. “Family Farming, Agribusiness and the State: Building consent around oil palm expansion in post-neoliberal Brazil.” Journal of Rural Studies 57: 147-156.
Cordoba, D., M. Chiappe, J. Abrams and T. Selfa. 2018. “Making Biodiesel Fair? Progressive Extractivism and Biofuel Production in Latin America’s Southern Cone.” Development and Change 49 (1): 63-88.
O’Connor-Robinson, M., T. Selfa and P. Hirsch. 2017. “Navigating the complex trade-offs of pesticide use on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.” Society and Natural Resources Vol. 31 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2017.1382625
Bain, C. and T. Selfa. 2017. “Non-GMOs vs. Organic Labels: Purity or Process Guarantees in a GMO Contaminated Landscape.”Agriculture and Human Values Vol. 34(4): 805-818.
Bain, C., T. Selfa, T. Dandachi, and S. Velardi. 2017. “Superweeds or Survivors? Framing the Problem of Glyphosate Resistant Weeds and Genetically Engineered Crops.” Journal of Rural Studies 51: 211-221.
Eaton, W., M. Burnham, C. Hinrichs and T. Selfa. 2017. “Bioenergy Experts and Their Imagined Publics: Implications for Public Engagement and Participation.” Energy Research and Social Science, 25: 65–75
Burnham, M., W. Eaton, T. Selfa, C. Hinrichs, and A. Parker. 2017. “The politics of imaginaries and bioenergy sub-niches in the emerging northeast U.S. bioenergy economy.” Geoforum 82: 66-76.
Takahashi, B., M. Burnham, C. Terracina, A. Sopchak, and T. Selfa. 2016. “Climate change perceptions of NY State farmers: The role of risk perceptions and adaptive capacity.” Journal of Environmental management 58(6): 946-957.
Kulcsar, L, T. Selfa, & C. Bain. 2016. “Privileged access and rural vulnerabilities: Examining social and environmental exploitation in bioenergy development in the American Midwest.” Journal of Rural Studies 47: 291-299.
Asbjornsen, H., A. Mayer, K. Jones, T. Selfa, R. Kolka, L. Saenz, K. Halvorsen. 2015. “Assessing Impacts of Payments for Watershed Services on Sustainability in Coupled Natural Human Systems.” Bioscience 65 (6): 579-592.
Selfa, T., C. Bain, R. Moreno*, A. Eastmond, S. Sweitz, C. Bailey, T. Martins*, G. Simas Pereira*, R. Medeiros. 2015. “Interrogating Social Sustainability in the Biofuels Sector in Latin America: Tensions between Global Standards and Local Experiences in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.” Environmental Management 56 (6): 1315-1329.
Feldpausch-Parker, A., M. Burnham, M. Melnik*, M. Callaghan*, and T. Selfa. 2015. “News Media Analysis of CCS and Biomass: Perceptions and Possibilities." Invited for Special Issue on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Bio-Energy vs. Fossil Fuels. Energies Vol. 8: 3058-74.
Selfa, T., A. Iaroi*, and M. Burnham. 2015. Promoting Ethanol in Rural Kansas: Cultural Politics and Local Framings. Journal of Rural Studies 39: 63-73.
Selfa, T., C. Bain and R. Moreno*. 2014. “Depoliticizing Land and Water ‘Grabs’ in Colombia: The Limits of Bonsucro Certification for Enhancing Sustainable Biofuel Practices.” Special Issue on The Paradoxes of Multi Stakeholder Initiatives in the Age of Global Agri-food Governance. Agriculture and Human Values 31(3): 455-468.
Takahashi, B.* and T. Selfa. 2014. “Pro-Environmental Behavior in Rural Agricultural Communities: Examining the roles of environmental attitudes, community satisfaction, and community attachment.” Environment and Behavior 47(8): 856-876.
Bain, C. and T. Selfa. 2013. “Framing and Reframing the Environmental Risks and Economic Benefits of Ethanol Production in Iowa.” Agriculture and Human Values 30 (3): 351-364
White, S. and T. Selfa. 2013. “Shifting Lands: Exploring Kansas Farmer Decision-Making in an Era of Climate Change and Biofuels Production.” Journal of Environmental Management 51(2): 379-391.
Professional Memberships
- Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society
- International Association for Society and Natural Resources
- Rural Sociological Society
- Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences
- Association of American Geographers
Journal Editorships
Associate Editor, Rural Sociology
Associate Editor, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
