Cecilia Martinez has joined the Milano faculty as Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management.  Dr. Martinez holds a Ph.D. in Urban and Energy Planning from the University of Delaware, an M.P.A. in Public Administration from New Mexico State University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University. She is a recognized expert in energy policy and climate equity, and she has led a variety of projects to address sustainable development at the local and international levels.  Martinez is the co-founder and director of the Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy, and has been a faculty member at University of Delaware, Metropolitan State University, and a visiting scholar at the Tishman Environment and Design Center in 2015.

Martinez will teach two courses this semester, “Climate Change and Cities” and “Advanced Seminar in Environmental Policy & Sustainability Management,” as well as advising Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management students. She will be working with the Tishman Environment and Design Center to further research and practice on energy, environmental sustainability, and connecting policy to organizing. Martinez’s expertise is on the development of energy and environmental strategies that support equitable and sustainable policies with indigenous and communities of color. This will help to promote the mission of the Tishman Center.

Dr. Martinez has also worked with a range of organizations from local grassroots groups to international organizations engaging in the promotion of sound environmental policy and environmental justice. She served on the Climate Action Planning Steering Committee for the City of Minneapolis, and has been appointed to several national advisory boards. She is also on the leadership team for the national EJ and Science Initiative, and is leading the effort on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on environmental harms. Most recently she co-authored a chapter on environmental justice and climate resiliency with Dr. Nicky Sheats. She is working on a manuscript on environmental justice and climate change and among her other publications is the co-edited volume Environmental Justice: Discourses in International Political Economy which includes some of her work on North American Indigenous peoples and the challenge of forging a common agenda of indigenous rights, justice and sustainability.