Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
I am originally from Ambos Nogales (the sister cities of Nogales) and have deep ties in the desert Southwest. Growing up in the Sky Island region inspired me to become an environmental scientist and specifically advocate for individuals living in communities like mine. I have worked in academia as a community-engaged, interdisciplinary scientist in southern Arizona and northern Mexico for 20 years, addressing transboundary water issues, environmental racism, contaminated sites, and environmental health. Currently, I am a T32 Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Arizona within the Center for Toxicology and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. My current research focuses on understanding how volatile organic compounds interact in workplace air and impact low-wage, minority workers in small business beauty salons and auto shops in Tucson. Before this position, I obtained my Ph.D. from the UA Department of Environmental Science and a minor from the School of Anthropology. Being on the Sky Island Alliance board will allow me to return to my roots and advocate for conservation efforts to attain optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. I look forward to our work!