Dr. Sorna Khakzad Knight is a researcher, preservationist, and community leader whose work bridges climate resilience, cultural heritage, and sustainable development. With dual doctoral degrees in Coastal Resources Management and Engineering, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to understanding the impacts of environmental change on communities and historic landscapes. She currently serves as a Researcher-Economist with the Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research and is the Co-Founder and President of the Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation. Her research and advocacy focus on protecting cultural resources, strengthening community resilience, and advancing heritage-based economic development.
