Amy M. Lerner

Amy M. Lerner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of California, San Diego. She is an environmental social scientist with interdisciplinary training in both social and natural sciences, focusing on human-environment relationships in urbanizing contexts.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A. in Environmental Studies, Brown University
• B.S. in Human Biology, Stanford University

Her research centers on processes of landscape change, particularly rural-urban transitions, with a strong emphasis on urban and peri-urban agriculture, green infrastructure, and urban resilience. She explores how scientific knowledge interfaces with policy, especially in relation to sustainable development and natural resource management in informal settlements and indigenous communities. Her fieldwork has been primarily based in Latin America, where she has worked for over 20 years in countries including Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.

Lerner previously held a faculty position as Assistant Research Professor at the National Laboratory for Sustainability Science, Ecology Institute, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she collaborated on sustainability-focused projects involving graduate students and community stakeholders.

She has also gained practical experience through non-academic roles in environmental and agricultural education at organizations such as Hidden Villa and Slide Ranch in California.

Lerner is actively engaged in interdisciplinary scholarship that bridges environmental science, urban planning, and policy. Though no specific awards or publications are listed in the provided text, her career reflects a deep commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and the integration of research with real-world applications.

She advises graduate students and contributes to university-community partnerships aimed at advancing urban sustainability.

Lerner is also personally passionate about organic gardening, nature walks, music, and cooking—reflecting a holistic connection to the environment and sustainable living.