Dissertation

This page provides an overview of my dissertation, which investigates governance evolution in socio-technical transitions within fragmented and underdeveloped policy contexts. My research seeks to understand how governance systems emerge, evolve, and institutionalize in the absence of cohesive frameworks, with a specific focus on the role of nonprofits. By addressing critical theoretical and practical gaps, my work offers actionable insights for advancing equitable, sustainable, and inclusive governance systems.

Dissertation

My dissertation, titled ""Bridging Institutional Voids: Governance Evolution, Nonprofit Roles, and Socio-Technical Transitions in Energy and Environmental Policy," explores the dynamics of governance evolution in socio-technical transitions, particularly within institutional voids as contexts where formal rules, norms, and structures are underdeveloped or misaligned. This research focuses on understanding how governance mechanisms develop and institutionalize during these transitions and the transformative role nonprofits play in filling these voids. Using a combination of theoretical development and case study analysis, this dissertation contributes to the growing field of governance studies by providing a new framework for analyzing institutional development across diverse socio-technical fields.

Paper 1: Renewable Energy Transitions in Fragmented Policy Contexts

This study examines how renewable energy transitions are initiated and sustained in Florida despite a fragmented and unsupportive policy environment. The research highlights the governance mechanisms and innovative roles of nonprofits in overcoming institutional barriers. By analyzing the interplay of local action and systemic challenges, the study reveals how decentralized actors drive transitions in the absence of cohesive state-level support.

Under Review: Elsevier Cities

Paper 2: Governance Evolution Framework

This paper introduces the Governance Evolution Framework (GEF), a novel interdisciplinary model for understanding how governance evolves and institutionalizes during socio-technical transitions. Drawing on multi-level governance theories and insights from diverse case studies, the GEF provides a processual account of governance emergence and institutionalization, with applications across fields such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, gene editing, and cryptocurrency. The framework bridges theoretical gaps and offers a unified lens for analyzing governance transitions in fragmented and dynamic contexts.

Working Paper

Paper 3: Nonprofits in Institutional Voids

This research investigates how nonprofits emerge and operate as key actors in addressing institutional voids. Using the GEF as a foundation, the study explores the transformative role of nonprofits in creating and institutionalizing governance norms. It further examines the limitations and vulnerabilities of nonprofit leadership, proposing a nuanced understanding of voluntary failure and its implications for collaborative governance. This paper contributes to the broader understanding of how nonprofits navigate and reshape governance in complex, multi-actor policy landscapes.

Working Paper