Monica Barra

Monica Barra is a cultural anthropologist and lecturer at Tulane University's Environmental Studies Program, a doctoral candidate in Anthropology at The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), and a research scientist with the Water Institute of the Gulf. Her work bridges environmental change, urban anthropology, and science-technology studies.

• PhD in Anthropology (CUNY)
• Research Scientist, Water Institute of the Gulf
• Lecturer, Tulane University

Research Interests focus on coastal land loss, racialized environmental inequality, and the intersection of techno-science with community-led restoration in Southeast Louisiana. She employs ethnographic methods, archival research, and participatory modeling to examine how race, history, and ecological interventions shape coastal futures.

Scientific Awards:

• Monroe Fellowship (2016), Global Humanities Center

Publications highlight themes of environmental justice, Indigenous and Black land stewardship, and the socio-political dimensions of coastal restoration.

Education: Pursuing PhD in Anthropology at CUNY, with prior work on techno-science and racial histories in the Mississippi River Delta.