Robert Foran

Robert Foran is a Lecturer in the Environmental Studies Department at San José State University (SJSU). He holds an MS in Environmental Studies from SJSU and a BA in Human Culture and Environment from SUNY Empire State College. His work focuses on environmental and social justice education, emphasizing youth engagement, civic participation, and community-based activism. Robert has developed curricula for after-school programs at Oak Grove High School and Soquel High School, fostering youth-led research and solutions to social and environmental challenges.

His research explores the intersection of race, socio-economic status, and coalition-building between white-led and BIPOC-led organizations in environmental and social justice activism. Central to his work is the analysis of 'whiteness' in education and activism frameworks, as detailed in his master’s thesis: The Whiteness of the Elephant in the Room: How White Guilt, White Fragility, and Colorblind Racial Ideology Shape Environmental and Social Justice Activism in Santa Cruz County.

Robert advocates for mentorship-driven, place-based learning and has organized public forums at SJSU and collaborative performances at Soquel High School. His pedagogical approach integrates critical thinking, community collaboration, and experiential learning to empower youth in addressing systemic injustices.