Joshua M.
Uebelherr, PhD

I earned a BA with dual majors in Biology and Environmental Conservation: Climatology, followed by an MSc in Ecology from Duke University. My doctoral work at Arizona State University's School of Public Affairs culminated in a PhD in Public Administration and Policy in 2017. My dissertation, Examining Hazard Governance from a Complex Systems Perspective, investigated how cooling centers within the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network reduce extreme heat risk. I combined qualitative interviews with network managers and practitioners alongside quantitative agent-based modeling to understand both the operational dynamics and governance structures that drive system effectiveness.

Since completing my doctorate, I have balanced faculty teaching at ASU and Grand Canyon University, where I instruct undergraduate and graduate courses in public administration. Concurrently, I have held leadership positions in environmental policy and planning. From 2018 to 2022, I served as Senior Air Quality Planner at the Maricopa County Air Quality Department, where I directed emissions inventory development and managed special initiatives to reduce air pollution across the region. I then transitioned to the City of Phoenix as Climate Program Manager (2022–2025), where I spearheaded the creation and implementation of Phoenix's Climate Action Plan. In this role, I prioritized emissions reduction, climate resilience, and adaptation strategies while ensuring that environmental justice principles were integrated throughout the planning and execution process.