Valerie Luzadis, Ph.D., is professor of Social-Ecological Systems and Ecological Economics at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), a public, doctoral granting institution in upstate New York. Luzadis has also served as Interim Provost and as the first Executive Vice President of ESF and held several other leadership roles in the institution.
Her teaching and research focus on systems approaches to social-ecological foundations for conservation and sustainability. Luzadis’ scholarly work also includes the study and practice of collaborative interdisciplinary science and efforts to bring science into policy. Luzadis brings system thinking to administrative and professional leadership roles to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of institutions through matrixed systems of shared effort, power, and respect for all.
Luzadis served on the Executive Committee of the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, now the GCSE Leaders’ Alliance. She is a past president of the United States Society for Ecological Economics, having also served as leader of the Founding Organizational Committee for the United States Society for Ecological Economics. Luzadis also served in national and state level leadership positions in the Society of American Foresters (SAF), including: chair of the House of Society Delegates at the national level, the first woman to serve in this elected position, after having served as chair at the New York SAF level. Luzadis was also recipient of the National Young Forester Leadership Award from the Society of American Foresters.
She brings to the academy strong practical experience having worked in Cornell Cooperative Extension and a forestry trade organization for several years. In addition, Luzadis has consulted with groups such as The Nature Conservancy and The Wildlife Conservation Society to advise and facilitate community-based conservation efforts.