Dr. Joseph recently earned her Ph.D. in Geography, Environmental Science, and Policy from the University of South Florida (USF). She also holds a Master’s in Tropical Conservation and Development from the University of Florida (UF), a Master’s in Women’s and Gender Studies (USF), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering (UF). Her research focuses on environmental resilience, water access, food security, and the phenomenological dimensions of environmental change, particularly within coastal and rural communities in the Caribbean and Gulf regions.
Her dissertation, Pito Nou Lèd, Nou La: Exploring Spatial Injustice Through the Lens of Rural Haitian Women, combined geographic information systems (GIS), environmental analysis, and narrative research to examine how environmental degradation, climate vulnerability, and unequal access to resources shape everyday experiences and collective agency. Dr. Joseph’s commitment to applied environmental problem-solving extends beyond academia. Her professional and leadership experiences include mentoring students across disciplines, organizing community and professional development initiatives, and serving in leadership roles with the Haitian Studies Association, Caribbean Studies Association, and the Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars.
Dr. Joseph’s long-term goal is to advance science-informed policy and community-led solutions that strengthen ecological sustainability in marginalized communities while also contributing to the next generation of scholars through teaching and mentorship.