Michael Gavin, PhD

Twenty-five years of experience in environmental conservation and sustainable development. Research leader with diverse technical and analytical expertise. Over 15 years founding and directing interdisciplinary and international teams in transformative innovation through collaborative research, engagement, education and training. Experience directing innovative education models that train future leaders while contributing to local environmental and sustainable development initiatives. Develops and directs programs and web-based platforms that empower innovative synthesis of data and research tools. Proven track record of establishing research alliances spanning the globe, including collaborations between university scientists, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and government agencies. Currently a Professor and Associate Department Head at Colorado State University, a Senior Fellow at the ESG Initiative at the Wharton School of Business (UPenn), and a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute (Germany). Previously based at Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand).

Areas of expertise:  Team leadership for innovation | Fund-raising from private and public entities | Identification of emerging trends and strategic visioning | Partnership-building with diverse stakeholders | Fostering expert collaboration | Facilitation, training, and mentorship | Design of novel analytical approaches | Communicating results broadly with different media | Global experience (Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific) | Development of open research platforms |  Directing university-industry research alliances

Solutions through Innovative Science

Teams I lead work in five thematic areas:

Environmental Conservation

Sustainable Development

Diversity, Inclusion, & Governance

Sustainable Investing and ESG

Origins of Diversity

Communicating Solutions

Scientific Publications

Over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications in leading outlets, including Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Nature Human Behaviour, Proceedings of the Royal Society, and many more.
 
Link to Google Scholar profile

         Wide-reaching Public Communication

• Popular articles in Newsweek, Scientific American, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and over two dozen other outlets.
• Interviews with national and international news programs, including the BBC and NPR
• More than 50 presentations at national and international fora, including >12 invited keynote addresses and a TED talk.

                           Teaching

"Mike Gavin is one of those professors that you'll remember for the rest of your life. He leaves an impact, and not just because of the subject he teaches, but how he teaches. Humor, a wealth of knowledge, respect and understanding. I'm so grateful ..." 
- Anonymous course review

Co-directed the award-winning Conservation Leadership Masters, a dual-degree Master’s program between the U.S. and Mexico that paired student learning with applied thesis work in collaboration with NGOs, communities, and government agencies. Projects addressed water policy, protected area management, and other regional environmental challenges, delivering real-world outcomes while training future environmental leaders.18 new courses developed and delivered with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative learning, research and communication skills, and practical application of theory to current environmental and social challenges.