Senanu Kwasi Kutor

Senanu Kwasi Kutor is deeply committed to exploring the human dimensions of climate change. As a member of the Provost’s Program for Black & Indigenous Scholars, his research focuses on how communities adapt to environmental challenges such as coastal flooding, with a particular emphasis on migration, wellbeing, and justice.

“My research intersects migration, climate change, climate change adaptation, and gender,” Kutor explains. “For my postdoctoral work, I will investigate the impact of Managed Retreat (MR) on the subjective well-being and (im)mobility dynamics of residents of three communities in Ghana.”

His study tackles four key questions: how residents perceive their wellbeing after MR, how community-led perspectives can make adaptation strategies more just and sustainable, how (im)mobility dynamics shift following relocation, and what psycho-social disruptions people experience and how they cope. By centering local voices and lived experiences, Kutor’s work aims to advance more equitable approaches to climate change adaptation.

“This study aligns with and contributes to the University’s commitment to using ‘its disciplinary and interdisciplinary strengths to solve increasingly complex, real-world problems’, including climate change and innovative adaptation strategies,” he notes. “By exploring the multifaceted issues of psycho-social consequences after MR in response to coastal flooding, my research reflects the University's aspiration to lead nationally and globally at the interface of societal needs through innovative research.”

At Waterloo, Kutor is eager not only to deepen his research but also to support others along the way. “As a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Waterloo, I seek to build on the university’s strong tradition of academic excellence and dynamic intellectual environment to further refine my analytical and research skills. I am also committed to mentoring students—particularly students of colour—by fostering their academic growth through rigorous research engagement and dedicated guidance.”

His academic journey spans four countries, with a PhD in Geography and Environment from Western University, an MA in Geography from Brock University, an MPhil in Development Geography from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and a BA in Geography from the University of Ghana. In 2025, he was also awarded a SSHRC Insight Development Grant in recognition of his impactful research agenda.

Choosing Waterloo for his postdoctoral appointment felt like a natural fit. “The University of Waterloo is an ideal destination for my postdoctoral studies and research on MR as a climate change adaptation strategy,” Kutor says. "The University is renowned for research excellence and is home to the Waterloo Climate Institute and renowned faculty like my supervisor. The affiliation with the Department of Geography and Environmental Management promises a rich academic environment that fosters interdisciplinary partnership and provides an encouraging framework for cutting-edge research."