About

Ida is a human-environment geographer and a broadly trained environmental social scientist with interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental governance and sustainable development, generally termed as the field of Environment and Development Geography.

Ida holds a dual PhD degree in Geography (Nature-Society Studies) from the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, and in Environmental Science and Policy, both at Michigan State University (MSU), USA. Prior to that, Ida earned a Master’s in Development Practice from the University of Arizona, in addition to her previous MA and BSc degrees in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Parakou (Benin).

Ida is currently an editorial member of Forest Policy & Economics (Elsevier journal) and of Communications Earth and Environment (Springer Nature journal), is part of the IUFRO Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) on Forests for Social and Economic Resilience, is part of the Scientific and Organizing Committee for the Forests and Livelihoods (FLARE) Network, and serves occasionally as expert advisor and consultant to some professional and private bodies.

Before joining Penn State, Ida worked at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics & Political Science, UK for her postdoctoral stint, and she remains affiliated as a Visiting Fellow. Prior to that and to her Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant at Michigan State University, Ida worked with the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology and the Institute of the Environment, both at the University of Arizona. Ida also worked with the Forest & Livelihoods Program at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) as a Dutch-sponsored Associate Professional Officer. She was also a Young Professional Fellow with the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership of Africa Development (AUDA-NEPAD)’s Sustainable Land & Water Management Program in South Africa.

Research Interests

CV