Mariela Fernandez

Mariela Fernandez serves as Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism within the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where her research bridges leisure studies, recreation management, and social justice frameworks.

Her scholarly focus centers on environmental justice in urban green spaces, recreation access disparities among marginalized communities, and Latinx engagement with natural environments. She critically examines how race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status shape park utilization, environmental gentrification, and health outcomes through community-centered research approaches.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on equity in green infrastructure, anti-racist recreation planning, and culturally responsive leisure programming. Her methodology predominantly employs qualitative and mixed-methods frameworks grounded in critical race theory and environmental justice principles to address systemic barriers in public space access.

As Director of Graduate Studies, Fernandez oversees academic programming while maintaining an active research agenda evidenced by 41 scholarly outputs. Her work demonstrates strong community engagement through collaborations with Latinx neighborhoods and contributions to policy discussions on inclusive park design, though specific grant funding details remain unstated in available materials.