Mercedes Quesada-Embid

Dr. Mercedes Quesada-Embid is a Full Professor of Environmental Policy and Advocacy at Catawba College, where she bridges social and natural sciences through a sustainability lens. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England, an M.A. in History, and dual B.S. and B.A. degrees in Biological Sciences and Spanish Language and Culture from Salisbury University.

• Ph.D., Antioch University New England
• M.A., Salisbury University
• B.S., Salisbury University
• B.A., Salisbury University

Her transdisciplinary research focuses on ecological integrity, equitable political-economies, and democratic societies. She emphasizes social movements, indigenous science, and experiential learning to address environmental racism, food justice, and systemic oppressions. Dr. Quesada-Embid also integrates anti-oppression frameworks into her courses and community initiatives.

Dr. Quesada-Embid has received the AASHE Racial Equity and Sustainability Collaborations Award (2021) for her work with the EDJI Task Force. She leads equity literacy trainings and serves on multiple boards, including the NAACP’s Environmental Justice and Climate Program Committee, GALS NC Program, Happy Roots, Center for Faith and the Arts, and the Reimagining America Project’s Environmental Justice Committee.

As a co-founder of the EDJI Task Force at Catawba College, she fosters partnerships with local, regional, and international organizations. She mentors Latinx students through the Unanue Program and offers field experiences in Ecological Entrepreneurship (Spain) and Gross National Happiness (Bhutan), reflecting her commitment to global sustainability and education.