top of page

Erin Upton, Ph.D.

Environmental Social Scientist
Research & Facilitation Consultant
Landscape Architect

 
Upton_026.jpg
About Me

About Me

The purpose of my work is to help create and sustain communities of care and systems of support as we encounter complex environmental challenges.  I want to contribute to a world where we not only survive but also thrive. 

I am committed to applied interdisciplinary approaches, the co-production of knowledge, and elevating diverse community voices. I am passionate about deepening our understanding of the relationships between people and place.


As a research consultant, I use methods of qualitative inquiry to help organizations and agency partners deepen their capacity, advance their missions, and inform policy and program decision-making. My research interests include larger themes about resilience, transformation, community, and connection. In my work, I explore climate change resiliency, social-ecological systems dynamics,

decision-making about water and land, and sustainable futures in working landscapes.

I have a Ph.D. from Portland State University's School of the Environment and the Department of Environmental Science & Management in Portland, Oregon. My doctoral research examined water and climate change resilience in agricultural wine regions. I have conducted environmental social science research in North America, South Africa, and Australia, and presented my work in Australia, the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. 

 

I have a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia and have worked as a landscape architect in New York City, as well as in management in the wine industry in Oregon. I am a Fellow of the National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Trainee (IGERT) program, and a Fellow of the Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) for International Research. 

Professional

2022- present

Research & Facilitation Consultant

Erin Upton Consulting

2022- present

Research Scholar

Ronin Institute

2021-present

Associate Consultant, Research & Evaluation

Dialogues in Action

Portland, Oregon

2020-2021

Researcher

4 Revolutions Co-Creative Ecosystem Group

Food/Water/Resources/Energy & Climate Change

Global Project- North American Team

 

2017-2020

Social Science Research Assistant

Portland State University

Institute for Sustainable Solutions

Clackamas River Water Providers

Clackamas County Water Environment Services

Clackamas County Soil & Water Conservation District

Oregon

 

2011-2015

Direct Sales/Operations Manager

Anne Amie Vineyards

Oregon

 

2007-2010

Landscape Architect

Dirtworks PC

New York City

 

2002-2004

Programs Administrator

American Academy in Rome

New York City

Service

Parks and Nature Bond Oversight Committee Member

2021- ongoing

Metro Regional Government, Oregon

Vice President of the Board

Ecoseva Institute

2022-ongoing

Technical Advisory Committee Member

2020-2022

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Oregon 

Education

2020- Ph.D. Earth, Environment, & Society

Portland State University, Oregon

 

2007- Master of Landscape Architecture

University of British Columbia, Canada

 

2006- Landscape Architecture (exchange)

Wageningen University, Netherlands

 

2001- Bachelor of Arts

University of Oregon, Oregon

 

2000- Political Science (exchange)

University of Lyon, France

Fellowships

National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrated Graduate Education Research Trainee (IGERT) Fellow

Portland State University

Ecosystem Services for Urbanizing Regions

Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Fellow & Sylff Research Abroad Grant Recipient

© 2022 by Erin Upton. Created with Wix.com

bottom of page