Dr. Connie Valencia

Dr. Connie Valencia is a Sustainability Solutions Community Engagement Fellow. Connie is a recent graduate of UCI with her doctorate in Public Health from the department of Population Health and Disease Prevention. Connie’s research is focused on understanding the role that neighborhood resources have in engaging residents relevant to exposure of air pollution and health. Connie examines lived experiences using mixed methods including qualitative research methods and community based participatory research. Connie believes that her research will provide a better understanding of the protective role of neighborhood institutions on air pollution exposure among Hispanic/Latino ethnic enclaves and the challenges faced by each community.

Dr. Valencia was born and raised in Boyle Heights. Connie’s former experience as an educator for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), community organizer and program manager have shaped her research interests.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Valencia, C, Morey, B, Calva, D, Cortes, E, Donaldson, L, Rodriguez, R, Herrera, L, Tanjasiri, SP, & LeBrón, AM. (2024). Engaging Residents to Address Environmental Injustices and Socioecological Factors in Boyle Heights. Environmental Justice.

Morey BN, Valencia C, Lee S. Correlates of undiagnosed hypertension among Chinese and Korean American immigrants. J Community Health. 2022; 47:425-4236. doi:10.1007/s10900-022-01069-5

Morey BN, Valencia C, Lee S. The influence of Asian subgroups and acculturation on colorectal cancer knowledge and attitudes among Chinese and Korean Americans. J Cancer Educ. 2022; 37:1806-1815. doi:10.1007/s13187-021-02042-x

Morey BN, Valencia C, Park HW, Lee S. The central role of social support in the health of Chinese and Korean American immigrants. Soc Sci Med. 2021; 284:114229. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114229

Garcia S, Valencia C, Amaro, H. Cognitive factors associated with frequency of eating out and eating takeout among Latinas. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021; (213):520-528.