Denielle Perry

About

Dr. Denielle Perry is an Associate Professor and Water Resource Geographer in the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, where she has been a faculty member since 2017. She serves as Director of the Free-flowing Rivers Lab and is a founding member and Co-Chair of the Global River Protection Coalition.

Research Interests

Political Ecology of Water Governance

• Political ecology of riverine ecosystem protection, restoration, and management
• Re-Indigenizing water governance and Indigenous water rights
• Conservation policies as climate adaptation strategies
• Water resource governance across the Americas, Europe, and Asia

Colorado River Basin Research

• Groundwater management implications for Colorado River baseflow
• Policy deficiencies in Colorado River water allocation
• Little Colorado River Basin as Indigenous socio-ecological landscape
• Overallocation and fragmented water management strategies

River Conservation and Protection

• Global analysis of policies for free-flowing river protections
• Wild and Scenic Rivers Act implementation and effectiveness
• Dam removal prioritization and river restoration strategies
• Protected area gaps in riverine ecosystem conservation

Water-Energy Nexus

• Intersection of water resources and energy development
• Environmental impacts of water-energy infrastructure
• Sustainable resource development in the American West

Education

• Ph.D. Geography, University of Oregon (2017)
  • Dissertation: “The Uneven Geography of River Conservation in the U.S.: Insights from The Application of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act”
  • Advisor: Dr. Alexander Murphy
• M.S. Geography, University of Nevada, Reno (2010)
  • Advisor: Dr. Kate Berry
• B.A. Spanish; B.A. International Studies Latin America, Humboldt State University (2006)

Professional Experience

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor, Northern Arizona University (2017-present)
• Director, Free-flowing Rivers Lab, NAU
• Advisor, River Studies and Leadership Certificate Program

Leadership Roles

• Co-Chair, Global River Protection Coalition (founding member)
• Co-PI, NSF-RCN-UBE-RIVER Field Studies Network
• Leadership positions in Association of Pacific Coast Geographers
• Leadership positions in American Association of Geographers
• Member, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Freshwater Specialists Group

Research Impact

Dr. Perry has made significant contributions to water resource geography and conservation policy, with research spanning multiple continents. Her work directly informs river conservation policy and water management decisions in the American West and internationally. Dr. Perry’s career represents a unique integration of rigorous academic research with practical conservation applications. Her work bridges the gap between scientific understanding and policy implementation, particularly in addressing the complex water challenges facing the American West and beyond.

Research Methodology

• Geospatial analysis and GIS mapping
• Quantitative and qualitative survey analysis
• In-depth interviews with stakeholders
• Literature review and policy analysis
• Field research

If you are interested in potential graduate programs, please visit my personal website https://denielleperry.com/ to see what current and former students are working on and some of the collaborations with the broader research community. Then send me an email with the following:

• what type of project are you are interested in, and why

• how will your experiences help you be successful in this project(s)