Joshi, Shangrila
Shangrila Joshi
Dr. Shangrila Joshi is a prominent scholar specializing in climate change, environmental and climate justice, globalization, and the governance of shared resources. Her academic journey traversed diverse landscapes, from her early life in Nepal and South Asia to earning a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy from the University of Oregon. Dr. Joshi’s extensive research has led to the publication of her first book, Climate Change Justice and Global Resource Commons, and numerous chapters in leading environmental publications. Her career at The Evergreen State College has allowed her to explore these issues further while delving into the Newa Guthi and its role in preserving ancient traditions in the Kathmandu Valley. This endeavor seeks to understand how Indigenous ways of life, knowledge, and governance contribute to socio-ecological resilience.
“There are so many different ways in which people make sense of the world and the way they think about environmental justice. It is important to practice tolerance and respect for different points of view.” - Dr. Joshi, 2023
Joshi, S. (2022). North–South relations: colonialism, empire and international order. In Routledge handbook of global environmental politics (pp. 309-321). Routledge. Joshi, S. (2021). Climate change justice and global resource commons: Local and global postcolonial political ecologies. Routledge. Francis, K., Henderson, M., Martin, E., Saul, K., & Joshi, S. (2018). Collaborative teaching and interdisciplinary learning in graduate environmental studies. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 8, 343-350. Joshi, S. (2015). Postcoloniality and the North–South binary revisited: The case of India’s climate politics. International Handbook of Political Ecology, 117-130. Joshi, S. (2014). Environmental justice discourses in Indian climate politics. GeoJournal, 79, 677-691.
Dr. Shangrila Joshi was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1978 into a large, close-knit family that adhered to traditional practices, embracing rituals and festivals. She grew up in the Newar culture in Lalitpur, a city near Kathmandu in the Kathmandu Valley. Dr. Joshi also spent five years living in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, which allowed her to appreciate the diversity of cultures and landscapes that shape our world. This early exposure to diverse environments sowed the seeds of her future academic pursuits.
Dr. Joshi’s academic journey began at St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences in 2001. Her quest for understanding the intricate interplay between humans and the environment led her to Ohio University, where she completed a Master of Arts in International Affairs in 2004. Armed with a broader perspective and an unwavering commitment to environmental issues, she continued her academic journey at the University of Oregon.
In 2008, Dr. Josh received a Sylff Fellowship, which supported her dissertation research in Delhi and Copenhagen. A Wayne Morse Dissertation Fellowship additionally financially supported her doctoral work. In her early years as a graduate student pursuing her doctoral degree, Dr. Joshi struggled to formulate her dissertation topic and questions. She was initially drawn to exploring ways to promote environmental behavior. However, she shifted her research focus to Indigenous sovereignty in her third and fourth years as she began to reflect on her identity. Despite her childhood immersed in rich cultures and customs, she did not grasp their ecological significance as a child. It was only amidst the evolving landscape of the environmental field that she came to appreciate the importance of indigenous knowledge in building resilience.
The process of identity formation delayed her dissertation proposal. Without the delay, “it might have been easier for me to get into the subject matter that I’m now interested in” (Survey, 2023). She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy, focusing on Geography in 2011. Her dissertation, titled ‘Justice, Development, and India’s Claim to Environmental Space,’ delved into North-South climate politics and the pursuit of equitable burden-sharing agreements in global climate mitigation efforts.
Reflecting on her early years, she now recognizes the valuable insights gained from her lived experiences, shaping her current scholarly pursuits. A deep exploration of the human dimensions of global climate change has grounded Dr. Joshi’s journey through life and academia.
After completing her Ph.D. in 2011, Dr. Josh began teaching environmental studies. She taught at Denison University and was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies in 2013 at Colgate University, both liberal arts institutions. In 2016, Dr. Joshi was teaching Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University. Teaching at three universities was challenging, but the experience paid off when Dr. Joshi was offered a tenure-track position at The Evergreen State University.
Dr. Joshi’s career has been marked by a passionate commitment to environmental justice, climate policy, and the study of institutions that govern shared environmental resources. Now, at Evergreen State College, she teaches the Master of Environmental Studies program and undergraduate climate justice. She joined the faculty at The Evergreen State College, where she serves as a core member of the Master of Environmental Studies program. Her scholarship revolves around the human dimensions of global climate change, specifically environmental and climate justice and the governance of shared resources.
In 2021, Dr. Joshi published her first book, Climate Change Justice and Global Resource Commons, which explored climate policy and politics within a multi-scalar political ecology framework. This work drew from her fieldwork experiences in Delhi, Copenhagen, and the Nepali Terai, shedding light on the nuances of the Kyoto Protocol and market-based climate solutions.
Her contributions extend beyond her books, with numerous chapters in publications such as Climate, Science, and Society: A Primer, Handbook of Global Environmental Politics, and Handbook of Political Ecology. Dr. Joshi’s research examines the Clean Development Mechanism and REDD+ within the context of Nepal, emphasizing their impact on local social dynamics and forest commons.
As of 2021, she found herself at an intriguing crossroads, having spent an equal number of years in Nepal and the United States. Her life’s journey, rooted in Nepali traditions of the Indigenous Newar yet exposed to Western epistemology, sparked a burning desire to delve deeper into her Newar identity. She embarked on a research journey, focusing on the Newa Guthi and its role in preserving ancient traditions in the Kathmandu Valley. This endeavor seeks to understand how Indigenous ways of life, knowledge, and governance contribute to socio-ecological resilience.
Dr. Joshi’s academic path is a testament to her commitment to bridging these worlds and advancing our understanding of environmental justice, climate change, and cultural resilience. She says, “The tensions between rootedness and mobility, and the connections between place, ritual, and identity are of immense interest to me” (Joshi, 2023).
Dr. Shangrila Joshi is a distinguished scholar and a proud mother, drawing inspiration from her son’s thoughtfulness, intelligence, creativity, and self-discipline. Fluent in multiple languages, she remains deeply connected to her heritage while contributing to the global discourse on environmental issues and Indigenous knowledge.
Transformative experiences shaped Dr. Joshi’s mentoring journey. A pivotal moment occurred during the summer of 2005 when she enrolled in the Indigenous survival class by the late Dr. Robert Proudfoot. This eye-opening program prompted her to reflect on her Indigeneity. Guided by her Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Shaul Cohen, she grappled with having a “fire in your belly” for a significant project like a dissertation. Over time, she has understood this passion and now sees her interests aligned with the decolonial project.
She also acknowledges the influence of her Temple University colleagues, such as Betsy Elizabeth Sweet and Dr. Ricky Sanders. During her time as a visiting professor at Temple University, these colleagues shared similar interests and became supportive and understanding mentors.
In mentoring younger students, particularly those with BIPOC identities, Dr. Joshi emphasizes the importance of considering the decolonial project. Rather than solely advocating for concepts like “land back,” she encourages an exploration of decolonization as an exercise in reclaiming elements of identity and ways of life erased by colonial education. The focus lies in acknowledging and learning about the rich cultural heritage often neglected in traditional educational frameworks.
Dr. Joshi advises students with similar backgrounds to reflect on creating spaces dedicated to the project of epistemic justice. This involves understanding and validating alternative ways of existence outside the European Enlightenment and conventional disciplinary learning. The emphasis is on fostering environments for knowledge production, exploring the intricate interactions between humans and nature, and conceptualizing one’s role in the broader world. Recognizing our place in the universe, she encourages a genuine interest in traditional practices and their meanings, framing this approach as a decolonial project that she finds deeply meaningful.
Furthermore, Dr. Joshi encourages others to discover the passion that fuels their academic pursuits. She recalls her experience of finding that “fire in the belly,” leading to a profound sense of clarity about her niche within academia.
Routledge. (2023, June 28). Featured Author: Shangrila Joshi. https://www.routledge.com/authors/i21093-shangrila-joshi
Shangrila Joshi Wynn. N.d. Sylff Association. https://www.sylff.org/fellows/shangrila-joshi-wynn/
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.
The Evergreen State College. 2023. Shangrila Joshi. https://www.evergreen.edu/directory/shangrila-joshi