Website Improvements Summary
Website Improvements Summary
This document summarizes the improvements made to your personal academic website to better communicate your expertise in ecosocial policy and climate adaptation.
Completed Improvements
1. Enhanced Homepage (_pages/about.md)
Changes:
- Restructured bio to lead with your dual role as PhD candidate and Executive Director of the Center for Ecosocial Policy
- Added clear sections: Research, Background, Current Projects
- Highlighted key research areas and methodological approach
- Emphasized connection between ecosocial policy and ecowelfare state
- Made dissertation more prominent with direct link
- Added clearer call-to-action for collaboration and networking
Impact: Visitors now immediately understand your research focus, practical work, and expertise in climate adaptation policy.
2. Updated Site Configuration (_config.yml)
Changes:
Added professional tagline: “PhD Candidate in Social Welfare & Critical Theory Ecosocial Policy & Climate Adaptation” - Updated site description to emphasize ecosocial policy research
- Added name and pronouns (he/him) to author profile
- Enhanced metadata for better SEO
Impact: Consistent professional branding across all pages and improved search engine visibility.
3. Expanded Navigation (_data/navigation.yml)
Changes:
- Added Research page link
- Added Publications, Teaching, and Talks links
- Reorganized menu for better information architecture
- Moved CV to end of navigation
Previous: 3 navigation items Now: 7 navigation items providing comprehensive access to your work
4. Created New Research Page (_pages/research.md)
New comprehensive research overview including:
- Clear explanation of dissertation concept
- Four distinct research streams with methods and key projects:
- Ecowelfare States & Climate Adaptation
- Climate Disasters & Economic Growth
- Climate Ideology & Policy Discourse
- Ecosocial Policy & Practice
- Theoretical contributions section
- Collaboration opportunities
- Quick links to related pages
Impact: Provides thematic organization of your work, making it easy for collaborators and potential employers to understand your expertise.
5. Enhanced Center for Ecosocial Policy Page (_pages/cfep.md)
Changes:
- Added visual pipeline diagram
- Created side-by-side comparison cards for the two organizations (501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4))
- Added color-coded sections for visual interest
- Expanded “Why Ecosocial?” section with key principles
- Added “Current Initiatives” section with specific examples
- Included “Get Involved” section with clear partner categories
- Added styled callout boxes for emphasis
- Added header overlay color
Impact: Professional, visually appealing presentation that clearly communicates your nonprofit’s mission and structure.
6. Updated Dissertation Page (_pages/dissertation.md)
Changes:
- Added styled introduction callout box
- Created color-coded cards for three empirical studies
- Expanded explanation of the argument
- Added “Theoretical Framework” section
- Added “Key Concepts” glossary
- Included timeline information
- Added contact callout at bottom
- Enhanced visual hierarchy with better formatting
Impact: Makes complex research accessible and engaging, clearly communicating the scope and significance of your dissertation.
7. Custom Color Scheme (_sass/_variables.scss)
New ecosocial color palette:
- Primary: Forest green (#4a7c59)
- Success: Sage green (#6b9e78)
- Warning: Warm earth (#d4a574)
- Danger: Terra cotta (#c55a47)
- Info: Coastal blue (#5b8a9f)
- Background: Warm off-white (#fffef9)
- Links: Deep forest green with hover effects
- Text: Dark charcoal (#2d3436)
Impact: Professional earth-tone palette that visually reinforces your ecosocial focus while maintaining readability.
8. Additional Custom Styling (_includes/head/custom.html)
Added:
- Enhanced button styling with green theme
- Section headers with subtle bottom borders
- Styled blockquotes with green accent
- Avatar border in theme colors
- Navigation hover effects
- Archive item enhancements
- Code block styling
- Consistent visual language across site
Impact: Polished, cohesive design that feels intentional and professional.
Visual Identity
The new design uses an earth and ecology color palette that reinforces your focus on:
- Environmental sustainability (greens)
- Social care and warmth (earth tones)
- Water and climate (coastal blues)
- Natural, organic feeling (off-white backgrounds)
Key Messaging Improvements
Before:
- Generic academic website
- Unclear research focus
- Limited navigation
- Standard gray color scheme
- Brief bio
After:
- Clear ecosocial policy focus
- Prominent Executive Director role
- Comprehensive research overview
- Thematic organization
- Earth-tone visual identity
- Multiple pathways to explore your work
- Strong calls to action for collaboration
Technical Improvements
- Better SEO: Updated meta descriptions and titles
- Improved Navigation: More intuitive site structure
- Responsive Design: Styled components work on mobile and desktop
- Visual Hierarchy: Clear section breaks and emphasis
- Accessibility: Maintained good contrast ratios with new colors
Next Steps (Optional Future Enhancements)
Consider these additional improvements:
- Add a blog section for ecosocial policy commentary
- Create visual diagrams for research frameworks
- Add photos from field work or community events
- Include data visualizations from research
- Add testimonials from community partners
- Create an “In the News” section for media mentions
- Add a newsletter signup for updates
Files Modified
_pages/about.md- Homepage content_config.yml- Site configuration_data/navigation.yml- Navigation menu_pages/research.md- New research overview (created)_pages/cfep.md- Center for Ecosocial Policy page_pages/dissertation.md- Dissertation page_sass/_variables.scss- Color scheme_includes/head/custom.html- Custom styling
Testing
After deploying these changes, test:
- All navigation links work correctly
- Colors display properly across browsers
- Mobile responsive design works
- Forms and buttons function
- External links (Google Calendar, email) work
- Social media icons display correctly
Questions Answered
These improvements address:
- ✅ How to make the site look better
- ✅ How to communicate your expertise effectively
- ✅ How to project yourself as an ecosocial policy scholar
- ✅ How to highlight your nonprofit leadership
- ✅ How to organize extensive research and publications
- ✅ How to create visual coherence with climate/ecology themes
Need adjustments? Feel free to modify any of these changes to better match your preferences. The color scheme, wording, and structure can all be customized further.