Rebecca Rasch

Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI)
Social Scientist
Rebecca Rasch Image

Rebecca Rasch is a Social Scientist at the Aspen Global Change Institute. Rebecca helps cultivate AGCI as a place for interdisciplinary and actionable science by assisting in the design and execution of a scientific research agenda and helping build and sustain research and practice partnerships. She also helps AGCI evaluate the effectiveness of the Institute’s programming. Rebecca’s research portfolio utilizes mixed methods approaches to explore the social drivers of global change, social vulnerability to climate change, and equitable climate adaptation solutions. Her areas of expertise include spatial demography, survey research, qualitative research methods, and natural resource conservation policy.

Rebecca has a breadth of research experience gained across the public and private sectors. Her past roles include Research Scientist with Amazon’s equity research team, Regional Social Scientist and Presidential Management Fellow with the USDA Forest Service, Senior Project Manager for the Social Science Research Council, and engagements with organizations across six continents, focused on sustainable development and environmental policy, including USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Assistance Support Programs, the Global Giving Foundation, the Environmental Defense Fund, Water for People, the Acumen Fund, and TechnoServe. Rebecca served as an agroforestry and micro-enterprise development volunteer in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.

Rebecca is a board member of the Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization based in Cambodia. In her free time, Rebecca loves exploring new nature-based destinations, both on solo expeditions and more moderate adventures with her partner, son, and daughter.

Education

PhD, Sociology and Certificate in Demography, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY
Dissertation Title: Income Inequality and Vulnerability to Flood Hazard in Brazil
MBA, Management, Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
BA, American Studies, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

Location

Seattle, WA

Joined AGCI

2023