Moana serves as the community engagement manager, championing the integration of environmental justice principles and practices across the heavy industry and transport sectors’ approach to community engagement. She orchestrates the development and implementation of community engagement strategies that prioritize meaningful two-way engagement with diverse stakeholder representation. Through her leadership, she steers heavy industry and transport corporations toward alignment with community needs and priorities.
Background
With over two decades in environmental science research, pedagogy, and community engagement, Moana combined collaborative leadership with her ability to connect with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Her accomplishments are underpinned by her passion for promoting environmental and climate justice. She led projects that have knocked on over 3,000 doors in LA to understand community perspectives on environmental justice issues. Data from one such project contributed to the groundswell of support to end neighborhood oil drilling in LA. An award-winning professor, she has taught courses in Environmental Justice, Environmental Science, and Research Methods, and is a distinguished recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship.
Education
PhD, Plant Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota
BA, Natural Sciences, New College of Florida
UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability Pritzker Environment and Sustainability Education Award
Fulbright Fellowship
Authored Works