Lara Cushing

Lara Cushing is an Assistant Professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, focusing on environmental health disparities and environmental justice. She holds a B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology and an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a PhD in Energy & Resources Group from UC Berkeley. Her research examines racial and class determinants of environmental hazards, including oil and gas drilling, climate change, and water quality.

• Education:
• B.S., Molecular Environmental Biology, UC Berkeley
• MPH, Epidemiology, UC Berkeley
• PhD, Energy & Resources Group, UC Berkeley (2015)

Dr. Cushing’s work emphasizes equitable access to clean environments, particularly for marginalized communities. Her studies investigate disparities in exposure to pollutants from industrial facilities, oil and gas flaring, and climate change impacts. She has published extensively on topics like air pollution, water contamination, and the health effects of environmental injustice.

Her research often integrates community partnerships, such as collaborations on drinking water justice and policy advocacy. Notable contributions include analyses of California’s environmental justice screening tools and studies on the health implications of fossil fuel emissions.

• Awards:
• Environmental Fellow, Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation
• JPB Environmental Health Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Her academic contributions bridge environmental epidemiology, policy, and community engagement, addressing systemic inequalities in environmental health outcomes.