Ryan E. Emanuel, Ph.D.

Ryan Emanuel belongs to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and lives in Raleigh with his wife, Cayce, and their nearly grown children. He is an associate professor of hydrology at Duke University and leads a group of researchers who study water, ecosystems, and people in a rapidly changing world. Emanuel has written or coauthored more than fifty peer-reviewed research articles on a wide range of topics ranging from water science and ecology to environmental justice and history. He also partners with tribal communities and Indigenous-led organizations to promote Indigenous rights through research, education, and public engagement. His book, On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice, was published in 2024 by the University of Noth Carolina Press and is a guide for students, decision-makers, and others who want to understand and address the inequitable environmental burdens shouldered by marginalized communities in North Carolina and elsewhere.

Ten Things I Can’t Do Without (In no particular order)

1. Sleep
2. Flowing water
3. Family
4. The Beatles
5. Kombucha
6. Lumbee cornbread
7. Fresh basil
8. Woodsmoke
9. Photo albums
10. Swedish Fish (candy, not animal)