Francine Romero

Francine Romero, Ph.D., is a Professor and Department Chair of Public Administration at the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She is a political scientist specializing in institutional determinants of public policy, with a focus on local land use policies, federal and state civil rights policies, and Progressive Era policies.

• Ph.D., Political Science, University of California, Riverside
• M.A., Political Science, University of California, Riverside
• B.A., Political Science, California State University, San Bernardino

Her research bridges historical legal analysis with contemporary urban planning challenges, including zoning reform, annexation, environmental protection, and civic engagement. She investigates how policy logic, public support, and resource allocation shape outcomes in natural resource governance and civil rights advancements.

Recent publications highlight her interdisciplinary approach, spanning judicial impacts on zoning (2022), aquifer protection (2023), energy policy (2023), and urban tree preservation (2021). These works emphasize the interplay between regulatory frameworks, environmental sustainability, and community health.

Romero has secured grants for municipal initiatives, including a $500,000 award for the City of San Antonio Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (2017–2019). She actively contributes to academic discourse through conference presentations on topics like the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, local conservation campaigns, and civil rights policy development.