Alfonso Aranda

Dr. Alfonso A. Aranda is a passionate scholar-activist dedicated to advancing environmental justice and community engagement. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of California, Davis, where his research has focused on addressing environmental health disparities in agriculturally-structured and farmworker communities. Dr. Aranda's expertise lies in conducting community-based participatory research (CBPR) to collaboratively assess health risks, exposure to carcinogens, and environmental public health in vulnerable populations.

As the son of farmworkers, his commitment to bridging academia and local communities is evident through his extensive work as a principal investigator, mentor, and educator. Dr. Aranda has led multiple projects and mentored both undergraduate and graduate students, fostering a sense of belonging and critical thinking in his mentees. As a term assistant professor, he has taught courses on environmental studies and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of social and environmental justice. Dr. Aranda is also a seasoned presenter and has shared his research findings at various conferences, demonstrating his ability to communicate complex environmental issues effectively. His dedication to environmental justice, policy analysis, and community collaboration continues to make a positive impact on marginalized communities and inspires the next generation of scholars and activists in the field.

• Community engagement and collaboration
• Teaching and mentorship
• Environmental health assessment
• Policy analysis
• Presentations and public speaking

• Environmental justice
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR)
• Health geography
• Transdisciplinary research
• Social and economic factors in environmental public health

• Board Member, Master's in Migrations Studies

• UC Davis, PhD in Geography, 2023
• UC Davis, BA in History, 2016
• Sacramento City College, AA in History, 2013

• Gerardo Marín Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow, University of San Francisco
• Associate Instructor in Community & Regional Development, UC Davis
• Principal Investigator of Knights Landing Environmental Health Project, UC Davis

• University of San Francisco Gerardo Marín Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2022-2023

• Deeb-Sossa, N., Manzo, R., Aranda, A., Kelty, S. Cultivating university students’ critical sense of belonging through community-responsive scholar-activism. Collaborations: A Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice (in press).

• Aranda, A. The Struggle for Environmental Justice in a Forgotten Community: Agricultural Hazards, Risk Perceptions, and the Use of Transdisciplinary and Community-Based Approaches for Policy Changes at the Local Level (Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Davis), 2022.

• Deeb-Sossa, N., Manzo, R., Kelty, S., Aranda, A. Community-Responsive Scholar Activist Research: Conceptualizing Capacity Building and Sustainability in a Northern California Community-University Partnership. Journal of Community Practice, 2022.