Moana leads efforts to enhance climate resilience and foster inclusive economic development across RMI’s portfolio. Her work centers on three core pillars: building internal capacity to embed equity and environmental justice (EEJ) principles and practices, aligning programmatic strategies with these principles, and spearheading community outreach that promotes meaningful, two-way engagement. By integrating these pillars, Moana drives EEJ’s overarching goals of expanding reliable energy access, addressing the health impacts of fossil fuel use, supporting equitable workforce transitions, and ensuring inclusive access to clean energy technologies and finance.
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 Louisiana 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 the state. 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
