“The Climate Adaptation Center is never going to be something that is secondarily important—it is central to our future.”
Karen Holbrook, recently retired as Regional Chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USF SM), underscores why climate adaptation must be embedded in both education and community action. With a legacy that includes being the first female president of Ohio State University, interim president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and countless other affiliations, her leadership lends serious credibility to the cause.
In this powerful interview, Holbrook frames the climate crisis as not just a local problem for Florida, facing red tide, hurricanes, and more, but as a global emergency backed by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of State.
Holbrook applauds the Climate Adaptation Center (CAC) for being a critical engine for public engagement, research distribution, and community resilience. She emphasizes the importance of making CAC a permanent part of the academic infrastructure, proposing it be built into the next major academic building at USF SM.
The synergy she calls for—between universities, governments, and communities—is exactly why CAC matters. The center brings data to the public, informs government and community strategy, and sparks awareness through inclusive programming. In Holbrook’s words, it connects people who can and want to make a difference.
This is not just awareness—it’s action. It’s planning for what’s coming, not just reacting to what’s passed.
Support the CAC.