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Gallaher, Adam

Assistant Professor

FACULTY

Biography

Adam Gallaher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at Central Michigan University. He is a broadly trained geographer, who investigates how societies can design sustainable energy transitions that are both environmentally grounded and socially just. Dr. Gallaher’s current research focuses on understanding and guiding energy transitions in ways that advance environmental sustainability, community benefits, and landscape resilience. Through theoretical studies of emerging sectors such as offshore wind and electric vehicles and applied work integrating clean energy into agricultural and rural systems, Dr. Gallaher develops approaches to address real-world problems and facilitate multi-stakeholder decision-making processes. He extends this work beyond academic by contributing op-eds to the Hartford Courant and Canary Media and sharing insights on NBC Connecticut, helping inform public understanding of regional energy and environmental issues.

His teaching interests include the resilience of socio-ecological systems, environmental policy and regulation, and the intersections of energy and the environment. He is deeply committed to working with undergraduate students, introducing them to research, and supporting their ideas as they grow into independent projects. Dr. Gallaher previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cornell University in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Connecticut, as well as an M.S. in Geographic Information Sciences and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Central Michigan University.

More about Adam Gallaher

Gallaher, A., Kalies, E.L., Grodsky, S.M. (2025) Sustainability trade-offs across modeled floating solar waterscapes of the Northeastern United States. Cell Reports Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100423

Sturchio, M.A., Gallaher, A., Grodsky, S.M. (2025) Ecologically informed solar enables a sustainable energy transition in US croplands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(17), e2501605122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2501605122  

Andrews, T.M., Atkinson-Palombo, C., Bayulgen, O., Gallaher, A., Scruggs, L., (2025) The winds of change? Attitudes towards wind projects and their electoral implications in Texas. Energy Policy, 202, 114608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114608

Adams, A.M., Gallaher, A., Benitez Ou, A., Chen, X., Li, W., Zhang, C., Mrozinski, R., Ghosh, D. (2025) Mapping COVID-19: Applying Ethical Strategies in Web Mapping Decisions. Cartographic Perspectives, 105, 67-75. https://doi.org/10.14714/CP105.1971

Gallaher, A., Klionsky, S.M., Chen, Y., Becker, B., Urban, M.C. (2024) Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Solar Energy Siting to Enhance Sustainable Energy Transitions. Environmental Science & Technology, 58 (49), 21557-21658. https://doi.org/10/1021/acs.est.4c07894

Gallaher, A. (2024). Energy Security Act of 1980. In: Webb, J.B., Fee, C.R. (eds) Energy in American History: A Political, Social, and Environmental Encyclopedia. London, UK: Bloomsbury.

Gallaher, A., Axon, S. (2024). Blue Transitions in the Global North vs Global South: Governing marine renewables for a sustainable blue economy. In: Leal Filho, W., Salvia, A.L., Eustachio, J.P.P., Dinis, M.A.P (eds) Handbook of Sustainable Blue Economy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32671-4_30-1

Adams, A., Ghosh, D., Chen, X., Li, W., Zhang, C., Gallaher, A., Benitez Ou, A. (2024). Using Geospatial Visualizations to Better Understand Public Health Data. In: Cantwell-Jurkovic, L.P., Parece, T.E. (eds) Spatial Literacy in Public Health; Faculty-Librarian Teaching Collaborations. Chicago, IL: ACRL.

Gallaher, A., Graziano, M., Atkinson-Palombo, C., Scruggs, L. (2024) Electrifying the road: Navigating the     transition to electric vehicles in Connecticut through hybrid insights and fleet evolution. Journal of Cleaner Production, 459, 142574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142574

Gallaher, A., Graziano, M., Axon, S., Bertana, A. (2023) Breaking wind: A comparison between U.S. and European approaches in offshore energy leadership in the North Atlantic region. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 187, 113766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113766

Gallaher, A., Graziano, M., Fiaschetti, M. (2021) Legacy and Shockwaves: A spatial analysis of strengthening resilience of the power grid in Connecticut. Energy Policy, 159, 112582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112582

Chen, X., Zhang, A., Wang, H., Gallaher, A., Zhu, X. (2021). Compliance and containment in social distancing: mathematical modeling of COVID-19 across townships. International Journal of Geographical Information Sciences, 35(5), 446-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658815.2021.1873999

Graziano, M., Gunther, P., Gallaher, A., Carstensen, F.V., Becker, B. (2020). The wider regional benefits of power grids improved resilience through tree-trimming operations evidences from Connecticut, USA. Energy Policy, 138, 111293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111293

AWARDS:

  • Institute of the Environment, Center for Environmental Science and Engineering Multidisciplinary Environmental Research Award (2023)
  • University of Connecticut Provost’s Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship (2022)
  • Ph.D., Geography, University of Connecticut, 2023
  • M.S., Geographic Information Sciences, Central Michigan University, 2019
  • B.S., Environmental Studies, Central Michigan University, 2017 
  • Sustainability
  • Energy Transitions
  • Socio-Ecological Systems
  • Applied Geography

Courses Taught

  • Resiliency of Socio-Ecological Systems