Ryan Alaniz

Ryan Alaniz is a Sociology Professor at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO) with expertise in post-disaster recovery, community development, and climate change adaptation. He holds a Master’s in Latin American Studies and a PhD in Sociology, working with communities across Latin America and the Midwest United States.

• Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo – Professor of Sociology (on leave 2024-2025)
• RE-AMP Network – Director of Rural and Remote Outreach
• EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program – Program Director

His research focuses on:

• Post-disaster recovery and resettlement
• Community social health and development
• Climate change-related displacement
• Social inequality in disaster contexts
• Livelihood resilience in developing nations

Recent publications examine climate change relocation tensions, national adaptation policies, and post-disaster funding mechanisms. He recently received the 2024 Faculty Diversity Award at Cal Poly.

• 2024 Faculty Diversity Award
• Co-author, Federal Drought Policy Brief for White House
• Director, Disaster By Drought Summit
• Collaborator, SLO County Sheriff’s Department, Fulbright Program, and Engineers Without Borders

Dr. Alaniz advises graduate students through courses like:

• SOC 110: Comparative Societies
• SOC 111: Social Problems
• SOC 218: International Political Economy
• SOC 327: Social Change
• SOC 444: Incarceration and Society
• SOC 461-462: Senior Project I & II