Dr. Lee is a Research Scientist at the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) at Texas A&M University and an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science at Texas A&M University at Galveston. She serves as the International Program Director at IDRT, leading international research and education programs she has been awarded by the National Science Foundation, as well as locally and regionally supported projects in collaboration with international partners. Her research focuses on the resilience of coastal urban areas and flood risk reduction, particularly along the Upper Texas Coast.

Through international partnerships with Dutch researchers and practitioners, she facilitates the transfer of advanced knowledge and practices to the Houston-Galveston region. Convergence research education models are another key aspect of Dr. Lee’s research, integrating multidisciplinary knowledge and stakeholder engagement to address complex societal challenges. She teaches courses in sustainable coastal management, environmental planning and policy, and coastal urban resilience. Her recent book, Coastal Flood Risk Reduction in the Netherlands and the U.S. Upper Texas Coast (Elsevier Press), is regarded as a seminal work in the field.

As a barrier island along the Texas Gulf Coast, Galveston has a long history of flooding from both coastal (saltwater) and pluvial (freshwater) sources. Its low elevation, accelerating sea level rise, increasingly frequent and intense hurricanes, shifting precipitation patterns, and growing concentration of assets—coupled with heightened social vulnerability—all contribute to a rising and complex flood risk. In response, Galveston has been working to reduce its vulnerability to future flood events by implementing a range of flood mitigation strategies, while also building long-term capacity for climate adaptation.

This presentation introduces a flood resilience framework applicable to flood-prone communities and showcases its implementation in Galveston. It emphasizes the importance of international collaboration to share knowledge and best practices among flood-vulnerable regions. Finally, it underscores the critical role of education and training in preparing the next generation of leaders to address the global challenge of increasing flood hazards.

KEEPING THE ISLAND AFLOAT: Flood Risk Reduction through Resilience, in Galveston, TX 

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