Dr. Karabi C. Bezboruah, The University of Texas at Arlington
Dr. Karabi C. Bezboruah
Professor, Public Affairs and Planning
The University of Texas at Arlington
Building Adaptive Capacity to Address Coastal Flooding: The Case of a Small Texas City
Environmental Science & Policy (January 2024)
Karabi Bezboruah, Amruta Sakalker, Michelle Hummel, Oswald Jenewein, Kathryn Masten, Yonghe Liu, Building adaptive capacity to address coastal flooding: The case of a small Texas City, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 151, 2024, 103599, ISSN 1462-9011,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.103599.
“Building Adaptive Capacity To Address Coastal Flooding: The Case Of A Small Texas City,” published in Environmental Science & Policy by Karabi Bezboruah, Professor at The University of Texas at Arlington, and colleagues, examines the pivotal role of community-based organizations (CBOs) in mitigating the effects of coastal flooding, with a focus on a small Texas community. The study, which was funded by an NSF grant, is set in the City of Ingleside on the Bay (IOB) and explores how the Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association (IOBCWA), a resident-led nonprofit, has enhanced the community’s resilience against coastal flooding. The research employs a participatory mixed-methods approach, combining grounded theory and the Regional Fingerprint tool, to analyze the environmental challenges faced by coastal communities and to evaluate their adaptive capacities.
This article is particularly relevant for nonprofit researchers, academics, and practitioners, as it underscores the importance of local knowledge, participatory governance, and the role of small, community-based nonprofits in environmental mitigation efforts. The study demonstrates how IOBCWA has improved IOB’s adaptive capacity through community organizing, advocacy, data collection, capacity building, and regional communication networks. The findings highlight the need for more formalized policies, enhanced regional partnerships, and broader inclusion of socially vulnerable groups in addressing environmental challenges. This research offers valuable insights into how local conditions shape adaptation strategies and provides tools for similar coastal communities facing climate impacts, emphasizing the significant role of small nonprofits in building community resilience.
Karabi Bezboruah, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Public Affairs and Planning at the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at the University of Texas at Arlington.Dr. Bezboruah also serves as the director of the two doctoral programs in CAPPA. These are the Public Administration & Public Policy (PAPP), and Urban Planning and Public Policy (UPPP).
Dr. Bezboruah teaches administration and policy courses in the Department of Public Affairs. She teaches the core courses in the Nonprofit Management specialization track and facilitates the graduate Certificate in Urban Nonprofit Management. She applies service-learning pedagogy in her courses, and has worked with community organizations, nonprofits, and local government agencies.
Dr. Bezboruah’s research includes cross sector collaboration, nonprofit management and leadership, strategic management, community development, cross-sector comparisons, NGOs – organizational role, gender role, leadership role & NGO effectiveness. Her work is in the intersection between public policies and organizational behavior, and she frequently collaborates with other disciplines to conduct research on policy issues surrounding health, housing and the environment.