Hi, my name is Tabor Whitney. I earned my PhD in Anthropology from Northwestern University in the Fall of 2025, and my dissertation examined how human-driven changes affect coastal biodiversity in the Veracruz region of Mexico. Specifically, I focused on conserving the endangered Mexican mantled howler monkey by combining biological health markers with human-wildlife interaction surveys to better understand the links between people, primates, and their shared environment.
Currently, I am a Nature Conservancy-Trienens Institute Community Climate Resilience Postdoctoral Scholar co-advised by Daniel Horton, Robert Weinstock, and TNC staff. The project is titled “Investing in Adaptation Solutions for Community Climate Resilience: Using the Our Roots Chicago Program as a Case Study.” As a member of the CCRG group, my research integrates ecological analysis with social science to develop actionable recommendations to enhance urban forest resilience and equity across the Chicago region.
Outside of research, you can likely find me outside enjoying nature somewhere, attending a concert, baking, or exploring Lake Michigan’s beaches and trails.
