The NSF-Coupled Natural Human Systems (CNH) grant team is made up of faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and students across multiple departments at the University of Central Florida, including civil, environmental and construction engineering, biology, aquatic biogeochemistry and sociology. Below, you can learn more about the Coastal Connections group from the Department of Sociology, studying the human dimensions of restoration in the Indian River Lagoon.
Dr. Timothy L. Hawthorne is an assistant professor of geographic information systems (GIS) in the department of sociology. He is a broadly trained human geographer with deep interests in citizen science GIS, community geography, qualitative GIS, and critical GIS. Community geography and citizen science GIS are subfields within geography that seek to engage academics and community organizations/residents in shared knowledge production focused on community-engaged research that benefits real-world communities. Qualitative GIS and critical GIS both seek to critically examine ways to extend the capacities and applications of conventional GIS approaches. You can learn more about Dr. Hawthorne’s work on his research site at http://citizensciencegis.org.
Fernando I. Rivera, PhD, is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida. His research interests and activities fall under staple areas of sociology, primarily the sociology of health/medical sociology, disasters, and race and ethnicity. In the area of health, his published work has investigated how different mechanisms are related to certain health and mental health outcomes with a particular emphasis on Latino populations. His disaster research has explored the investigation of factors associated with disaster resilience, particularly in rural communities. In the area of race and ethnicity he has investigated the effects of segregation and perceived discrimination on the health of Latino populations. Dr. Rivera has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture for his disaster research. In addition, he participated in the Research Education in Disaster Mental Health training fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health and Dartmouth University. He is also the editor of Disaster Resilience: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2013, with Kacupu and Hawkins). He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his B.A. degree in sociology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. He also completed a NIMH sponsored post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for health, health care policy, and aging research at Rutgers-the state university of New Jersey.
Dr. Hannah Torres is a postdoctoral research scholar in the department of sociology at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Torres’ research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, though her primary areas of expertise involve ocean and coastal resources, social dimensions of environmental management, disaster resilience and climate change adaptation. Her current research explores the role of individuals’ sense of place in Indian River Lagoon restoration. Dr. Torres earned her Master’s degree in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University, and her Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida.
Lain Graham, MA, RPA is a doctoral student and a graduate research assistant in the department of sociology at the University of Central Florida. She is also obtaining a graduate certificate in GIS and has extensive research experience in the field. Her community-based dissertation research investigates sense of place, place attachment, identity, and dependence in Hopkins Village, Belize. Lain earned her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Master’s degree in Bioarchaeology from Georgia State University, and spent seven years as a professional archaeologist working in the Mediterranean, Central America and the Southeastern United States. Lain’s research interests include social inequalities, physical anthropology, youth education and geography.
Merry Johnson is a senior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Biomedical Science and minoring in Medical Sociology. Her primary research interests include cardiovascular disease in correlation with the effects of diabetes mellitus. She enjoys listening to and composing music, spending time on the beach, maintaining her car, and attending live performances. The CNH work is important to Merry because it takes place in her hometown and she has an emotional connection to many of the areas around the Indian River Lagoon.
Luis Cruz is a senior at the University of Central Florida majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. Luis is interested in clinical psychology, child psychopathology, and ethnic studies. In his free time, he enjoys reading and playing music. Luis is excited to be working on the CNH project over the summer and he is hopeful that interacting with the local community leads to more directed and efficient restoration efforts in the future.
Vanessa Rijo Sánchez a McNair Scholar studying at the University of Central Florida. Vanessa is their senior year, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Women’s and Gender studies. Vanessa’s interests revolve around qualitative research, social theory, feminist and queer theory, as well as, race, gender, sexualities, kinship, and ethnography. During their free time, Vanessa enjoys to write Spanish poetry, dance salsa, and bachata and taking spontaneous adventures with close friends. The CNH project appeals to Vanessa’s qualitative interests and provides an opportunity to help the community through research.
Sara Peluso is a senior year at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Environmental Studies, minoring in Biology. Sara is also working towards a certificate in GIS. In her free time, she loves going out to eat, going to the beach, kayaking and paddle boarding. The CNH research is important to Sara because it combines her love for science and the environment with community outreach. Sara believes that individual people can make a difference and by including the residents of the IRL community in our research many voices are being heard that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Emily Monari Salamanca is an international student in her junior year majoring in Biotechnology, and minoring in Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sociology at the University of Central Flordia. Emily has spent several years studying environmental problems and volunteering for environmental projects. The CNH work provides Emily the opportunity to help people and the environment and develop her interests.
Samuel Eriksen is a senior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Environmental Studies and Urban and Regional Planning. He enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with his puppy and girlfriend. The CNH project is important to Sam because it brings together people from all walks of life and disciplines to try and solve an issue and it is helping to bridge the gap between local issues and federal and state policy.