PROGRAM

On May 4, 2011 the Public Policy Program at Hunter College hosted its first discussion of its Paths in Public Service series with Dr. Shalini Vajjhala.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Shalini Vajjhala serves as the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for International and Tribal Affairs. In this role, she is charged with the responsibility of advancing the United States’ international environmental priorities. In addition, she and her team led the Obama-Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen public health and environmental protection in Native American areas, with a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own environmental programs.

Prior to her government service, Dr. Vajjhala was a fellow at Resources for the Future and the leader of the Global Adaptation Atlas project. Her research focuses on the social impacts of large-scale development and environmental policies that involve critical public participation components. She has worked extensively on integrating and applying participatory mapping methods and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to diverse research and policy issues including climate change adaptation, environmental justice regulation, and renewable energy facility siting. Previously, she worked as an architect, community organizer, and design instructor in Pittsburgh. Dr. Vajjhala holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.