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Current Scholars
Dr. Rishi Awatramani
Rishi Awatramani received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. His research examines the racial politics of the working-class, and historical patterns of social protest, globally and in the U.S. His research interests are in the fields of race and ethnicity, labor and social movements, urban sociology, and political economy.
Dr. Ezinne Nwankwo
Dr. Ezinne Nwankwo is ERI’s National Equity Atlas Postdoctoral Scholar 2023. She is a recent graduate of UCLA with her doctorate in Community Health Sciences. Ezinne’s research interests center on the migration and immigrant experiences of black and African populations. In the U.S., this group of immigrants is seldom the focus of public health research, and their immigrant experience is rarely the center of public debate. Ezinne believes that her research will shed light on the challenges that immigrants face to integrating into U.S. society, and the impact that these barriers have on health and well-being. She expects that this research will help to identify opportunities for effective immigrant integration policies and programs.
Dr. Uriel Serrano
Dr. Uriel Serrano is a Community Power Postdoctoral Scholar at ERI. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at UC Santa Cruz. In his research, he employs interview, ethnographic, archival, and survey analysis to study how racially minoritized communities experience and engage racial hierarchies and social structures. He does so with a focus on the carceral state, youth, schools, and community organizing. His research agenda extends these substantive interests—as well as his methodological interests in mixed-methods research and community-rooted research—by examining the practices and consequences of policing racially minoritized young people, the role of organizations (like schools, school boards, and community-based educational spaces) in shaping the lives of racially minoritized youth, and how community organizations respond to criminalization and surveillance.
Dr. Connie Valencia MPH, CHES, PhD
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.