Geography PhD Candidate Lupe Franco Awarded the Switzer Fellowship

Lupe Franco, a Ph.D. candidate in Geography at UC Davis, has been awarded the prestigious 2025–2026 Switzer Fellowship. Lupe’s research examines the intersection of environmental justice, climate justice, and homelessness, with a focus on uplifting frontline communities disproportionately affected by climate change and systemic marginalization. Rooted in their lived experiences growing up in Boyle Heights, Lupe centers community knowledge and participatory research to inform more just and inclusive environmental policies. The Switzer Fellowship supports graduate students in New England and California who demonstrate leadership in environmental problem-solving and a strong commitment to integrating social equity into their work.