I am a population and human-environment geographer interested in the interactions between rural livelihoods, household well-being and environmental change in the developing world. As described on these pages, my research has investigated environmental influences on human migration around the world, indigenous livelihoods in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and human dimensions of climate change and soil degradation in rural Africa. My methodological expertise is in the use of survey, statistical and demographic methods, approaches which have not been widely applied to these topics within geography.
AFFILIATIONS
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Geography & Environment
Joint Faculty, Environment, Ecology and Energy Program
Faculty Fellow, Carolina Population Center
CV & UPDATES
CV_Gray
Google Scholar Profile
TEACHING
Development and Inequality – Global Perspectives: Geog 130 Syllabus 2024
Social Vulnerability to Climate Change: Geog 437 Syllabus 2024
Human-Environment Research Seminar: GEOG 803 Syllabus 2023
Ecological Analyses and Applications: ENEC 567 Syllabus 2025
ADVISEES
Postdoc: Alfredo Rojas (2023-2025), Heather Randell (2016-18), Jason Davis (2012-15)
PhD: Georgina Gemayel (current), Sara Ghebremicael (current), Sandeep Kandikuppa (2021), Maia Call (2017)
MA: Douglas Hopping (2016), Matt Bozigar (2014)
Honors thesis: Shreeya Patel (2026), Katie McMahon (2021), Erika Munshi (2018)
EDITORIAL & ADVISORY BOARDS
Editorial Board, Population & Environment
National Advisory Committee, IPUMS-International
CONTACT
308 Carolina Hall
Department of Geography & Environment, Campus Box 3220
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
cgray@email.unc.edu