Danielle Rivera

Danielle Rivera is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning at the University of California Berkeley. Her work focuses on environmental justice, climate justice, and community design, particularly in low-income communities across South Texas, the Bay Area, and Puerto Rico. She directs the Just Environments Lab, which prioritizes social justice in environmental discussions.

Education

• PhD in Urban Planning, University of Michigan
• Master of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania
• Bachelor of Architecture, Pennsylvania State University

Research Interests

Rivera's research examines environmental planning, urban design, and community development through the lens of climate equity and structural violence. She employs community-based methods to address injustices in disaster recovery, green infrastructure, and extractivist practices, with a focus on colonias and marginalized populations.

Publications & Trends

Her recent articles explore themes like climate colonialism, procedural vulnerability, and municipal undergreening. These works analyze the intersection of policy, design, and equity, emphasizing systemic barriers and community-led solutions in post-disaster contexts and informal settlements.

Labs & Teams

The Just Environments Lab, led by Rivera, bridges social justice with environmental planning. It engages in participatory research and design activism, particularly in South Texas colonias and other underserved regions.