After completing her first year as a faculty member in the department, Assistant Professor Ida Djenontin took some time to reflect on her journey and achievements. During this contemplation, she discussed her research, the challenges she faced and her aspirations for the 2023-24 academic year.
Djenontin is a human-environment geographer who specializes in environmental governance and sustainable development. Her research focuses on understanding the complex relationship between environmental and climate changes in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly how these changes impact forested ecosystems and shared natural resources.
Djenontin’s first year at Penn State came with its own set of challenges and successes as she transitioned from her previous role as a postdoctoral researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
“My first year as a tenure-track assistant professor ended positively, but it was not without its challenges,” Djenontin said. “I had to navigate the dual transition of moving from the UK to the US and from a postdoc role to an assistant professor position. However, the support and collegiality I received in my new work environment helped me navigate these changes and made me feel welcomed.”
During her first year she taught two courses, GEOG 230 Geographic Perspectives on Environment, Society and Sustainability in fall 2022 and GEOG 438W Human Dimensions of Global Warming in spring 2023. She said she is committed to creating an engaging learning environment, which complements her research pursuits and serves as the foundation of her approach.
“I embraced my expanded responsibilities with enthusiasm, especially when it came to teaching,” Djenontin said. “Teaching courses, interacting with students and igniting their curiosity about human-environment geography are incredibly fulfilling. It’s a way to explore and address the many socio-environmental challenges our society faces.”
Throughout her first year, Djenontin engaged in various research projects. These projects included in-depth investigations into land-use and forest governance, with a specific emphasis on power dynamics and equity issues related to ecosystem restoration processes. She also explored cleaner cooking alternatives, aligning with the global shift toward sustainable energy practices. Additionally, she initiated research proposals aimed at addressing questions related to the climate crisis.
Djenontin’s research is deeply rooted in her interactions with rural communities grappling with environmental issues. Her motivation for conducting problem-solving research in natural resource and land-use management stems from her early experiences with rural farmers who faced challenges due to environmental changes and risks to their livelihoods. This drove her to seek solutions for positive change.
“I’ve recognized the need to integrate profound socio-cultural realities into environmental policy and management decisions,” Djenontin said. “My experiences mirror the complex relationship between humans and their environment in typical rural landscapes across various African contexts, complicated further by climate change. These factors shape both my interest and my approach to contributing to scientifically informed solutions.”
For this academic year, Djenontin has set new goals for herself.
“One of my goals is to establish a solid foundation for my research lab,” Djenontin said. “This includes securing larger external grants, forming my research team and updating my website.”
With a strong foothold established in her first year, Djenontin is primed to continue enriching the field of human-environment geography. She is excited to put three seed grants into action and work with her two new Ph.D .students, Faisal Elias and Maria Mugeni, with whom she looks forward to collaborating and offering guidance