Evelyn Alvarez

Dr. Evelyn Alvarez serves as a Professor in the Department of Public Health at the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, California State University, Los Angeles. Her research integrates environmental health science and geospatial analysis to develop community-focused solutions through smartphone applications and wearable technology.

Her educational foundation includes a PhD in Environmental Health Science from UCLA (focusing on hospital environments and antimicrobial surfaces) and an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences with a molecular toxicology track from Columbia University. She maintains active research in environmental justice initiatives, notably establishing the Public Health Little Free Library at Cal State LA's University Library.

Dr. Alvarez's research portfolio centers on environmental justice, sustainable aging in green spaces, and community science methodologies. Her work bridges public health with practical community applications, particularly examining how environmental factors impact Latinx populations and aging communities. She explores innovative approaches to environmental monitoring through citizen science and digital tools.

Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate interdisciplinary focus across environmental justice, marine conservation, transport sustainability, and aging research. These works reveal consistent themes of community empowerment, health equity, and practical environmental interventions through both academic publications and public-facing platforms like The Medical Care Blog.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Quality Matters Preparatory Review certification
• Quality Matters National Certification

She secured $760K in USDA REEU funding for undergraduate training in urban agriculture and natural resources. Her invited lectures span UCLA, Idaho State University, and international conferences including Tokyo and Singapore. She actively mentors students through projects like the Public Health Career Advisement Project (PH-CAP).

Dr. Alvarez leads the Cal State LA Public Health Little Free Library initiative and collaborates with organizations like Girl + Environment. She maintains dual professional engagement as a contrabassist performing with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) and Cal State LA Symphony Orchestra.