Dr. Jean Taylor Ellis

Curious about the Coast. Committed to People.
I study beaches and dunes—how wind moves sand, how coasts respond to storms and flooding, how people shape these dynamic landscapes, and what the science can teach us about living with a changing coast.

I’m a Professor of Geography at the University of South Carolina and founder of WINDlab. My work takes me from instrument-filled days on the beach to collaborations with students, scientists, coastal communities, and decision-makers.

The coast is more than my research subject. I care deeply about beaches, the people and ecosystems connected to them, and making coastal science understandable and useful. Mentoring is central to that work—helping students find their strengths, build confidence, ask better questions, and discover where their own curiosity can take them.