Edith de Guzman

Edith de Guzman serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at the Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles. She is a Cooperative Extension specialist with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, conducting interdisciplinary research on sustainable urban transformation with focus on climate resilience in underrepresented communities.

Education

• PhD in Environment & Sustainability, UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability
• Master of Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
• Bachelor of Arts in History and Art History, UCLA

Research Expertise

Dr. de Guzman integrates urban planning, public health, and biophysical sciences to develop equitable climate solutions. Her groundbreaking work with the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative demonstrates that strategic increases in tree cover and reflective surfaces could prevent 25% of heat-related fatalities in vulnerable communities. Current initiatives like ShadeLA leverage community-driven approaches to expand urban shade infrastructure countywide.

Professional Leadership

As former Director of Research at TreePeople (2014-2020), she spearheaded the City of Los Angeles Stormwater Capture Master Plan and created the first high-resolution spatial analysis of LA County's urban forest. Her international drought response study tours to Australia established critical frameworks for California's water management, while co-founding the Urban Forest Equity Collective removed policy barriers for greener neighborhoods in underserved areas.