WHO WE ARE

As If Otherwise is an interdiscplinary research cooperative based in Northern New Mexico and composed of social scientists, ecologists, filmmakers, artists, journalists, and policy experts. Each project is a collaboration between our core team and the individuals in our network best suited to help our clients understand a complex problem and the creative solutions required for flourishing.

Chase Niesner — Research Director and Founder

Chase is an cultural anthropologist, writer and filmmaker with an interest in multispecies relations, media praxis, the politics of belonging, and scale. He holds a BA in History from Yale University and a PhD from UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Whether in scholarly journals, on public media platforms, or presented in museums, his work often explores the complex social and political dimensions of biodiversity and environmental justice questions.

Abbie Barronian — Editorial Director and Founder 

Abbie is a storyteller with over a decade of experience in print and digital media who is committed to deep research, editorial rigor, and true stories that tug at the threads connecting people, land, and other living beings. She is passionate about the ways we move through and engage with the natural world, and spent years reporting stories about public lands, resource management, and the environment. Her award-winning writing and editing can be found in Outside, Sierra, Climbing, SKI, POWDER, Adventure Journal, New Mexico magazine, and in The Mountaineers books.