Faculty Spotlight- Dr. Clare Cannon

I am an Associate Professor of Environmental Justice in the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology and a Research Fellow in the Department of Social Work at the University of the Free State, South Africa. I am part of the Arab diaspora and settler of North America researching the intersections of environmental injustice, climate risks, and health disparities in urban, rural, and disaster contexts.

What class(es) do you teach? 

I teach CRD 251 Ecology & Society - which is an in depth environmental justice and social theory course where we learn diverse ways of thinking about social and environmental injustice and apply them to pressing problems and issues.  I also teach CRD 240 Community Development Theory - which focuses on theoretical frameworks that help us understand how to build and develop stronger and more just communities.

What are your research interests and current goals?

 I have three major lines of research into environmental injustices across scales, improving climate justice in climate adaptation, and examining health disparities in marginalized communities. I use a variety of methods across quantitative, spatial, qualitative, and community engaged approaches. My goals are to do research that matters, train the next generation of environmental social scientists, and advance the institution and profession particularly in making it a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable place. 

What made you decide to become involved in the EPM program?

 I have been really impressed by the caliber of EPM students in my courses and as my research assistants. I am excited to deepen my relationship with the program and get to know more incredible students. 

Do you have any advice for incoming or prospective EPM students? 

There is a lot going on at UCD! Definitely get a sense of what is out there and of interest to you and then take advantage of all the amazing things people are doing. Build community in the program and across the other graduate groups. Enjoy your time here!

If you weren't a UCD faculty member, what would you be doing? 

What a great question - I would probably be consulting with organizations and governments on how to engage communities and stakeholders to advance climate just adaptation and reduce environmental inequality.