About Alex's Work
Alex is an assistant professor of Agroecology in the School for Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV is located in south Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, considered one of the fastest urbanizing areas in the US and one of the most agriculturally rich areas in the Southwest. However, this area has other dubious national distinctions, which include the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the US, the lowest percent of people who eat vegetables regularly, and the poorest access for local residents to healthy foods, meaning that this burgeoning, rapidly urbanizing population is becoming increasingly marginalized from its local food production system. In response to this challenge, Alex has initiating a research and student training program at UTRGV in urban ecology and agroecology, with the ultimate goals of: (1) elucidating patterns in landowner decision-making and how they relate to environmental and social health, in order to help inform local food and urban policies and (2) preparing students with scientific rigor, techniques and skills, and leadership to make positive impacts on their own communities.
