Dr. Louie Rivers III is an environmental scholar, educator, and advocate whose work explores the intersection of risk perception, environmental justice, and community decision-making. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, where he teaches and researches adaptive management and inclusive environmental policy.
Dr. Rivers earned his Ph.D. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University in 2006, concentrating on Risk Perception and Decision-Making. He also holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources (2003), focused on Human Dimensions, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kentucky State University (2001), where he minored in Chemistry.
His teaching experience spans both undergraduate and graduate levels, including:
North Carolina State University
ET 455 – Adaptive Management
FOR 595 – Environmental Justice and Decision Making
Michigan State University
ESP 800 – Principles of Environmental Science and Policy
FW 211 – Introduction to Gender and Environmental Issues
CJ 292 – Methods of Criminal Justice Research
CJ 811 – Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research
CJ 809 – Environmental Risk Perception and Decision-Making
Dr. Rivers’s career includes roles as:
Assistant Professor, Environmental Science & Policy / Criminal Justice, Michigan State University (2008–2013)
Science Assistant, Economic, Decision, and Management Sciences Cluster, National Science Foundation (2006–2008)
Beyond academia, Dr. Rivers is deeply engaged in local governance and community empowerment. He has served 2.5 terms on the Chapel Hill Planning Commission, advocating for equitable development and transparent decision-making. He is also a Jackson Center Compass Group member, supporting affordable housing, historical preservation, and intergenerational dialogue in Northside and Pine Knolls.
Dr. Rivers brings intellectual rigor, strategic insight, and a grounded commitment to justice, whether in the classroom, at the planning table, or in the community.
