Finding Meaning through Environmental and Social Justice
Senior Paulina Ursua Garcia reflects on her time at SCU and shares her plans for the future.
By Shantala Jennings ’27
Senior Paulina Ursua Garcia, an Environmental Studies and Ethnic Studies double major, hopes to foster healthy and safe communities through environmental and social justice. Part of SCU’s LEAD Scholars and Honors Programs, she decided to double major when she realized the connection between social and racial justice and protecting the environment. She has used her time at SCU to gain a more holistic understanding of these topics.
Garcia has been involved with various projects and organizations on campus. She held community outreach and co-chair positions for the Undocumented Students and Allies Association, worked as a student assistant for the Office of Accessible Education and the Ignatian Center, and was a research assistant in the Environmental Justice and Common Good Initiative’s Food Justice Lab. After completing her course in Sustainable Urban Planning she was invited by her professor, C.J. Gabbe, to become a research assistant in which she is now co-leading the content analysis of the research project that requires a deep understanding of policy documents and the intersections between science and policy.
After graduation, she hopes to spend time with her family in Colorado before pursuing a career in the environmental justice sphere with a focus on food justice. Find out more about her favorite dining spot, favorite courses, and capstone project!
What is your final senior project and why did you choose that topic? What impacts do you want your project to have on the SCU community and others?
My capstone project was developing an Environmental Justice framework for evaluating the Management Zone Implementation Plans released for Modesto and Turlock in the Central Valley under the CV-SALTS Program. These plans seek to address the nitrate groundwater contamination issue in these communities by proposing potential interim and long term solutions. My team’s project was rooted in evaluating whether or not these plans comprehensively addressed the issue and centered equity, sustainability, and other environmental justice values in their approaches. My partner and I authored a comprehensive report for California Rural Legal Assistance that included evaluation and recommendations for proposed solutions to remediate nitrate groundwater contamination and analyzed cost, equity, feasibility, community engagement, and timeline for each solution.
Which course do you believe had the most impact on you and your perspective on different topics?
One of my favorite courses I’ve taken at SCU has been my Mixed-Methods research course. In this class we were connected with various community-based participatory action research projects in the South Bay, and I was connected with an ethno-biodiversity urban gardening project. I enjoyed this class and the project because it helped me explore the South Bay through various urban gardening programs and got to connect with so many urban gardeners. Additionally, this class introduced me to Food Justice work, and eventually led me to my position as a student research assistant in the Agroecology, Climate Resiliency, and Food Justice Lab at SCU.
What memory from SCU resonates with you and why?
Many of my best memories at SCU have been through my time in the LEAD Scholars program. LEAD holds events throughout the year such as LEAD Family Festival, Christmas parties, and BBQs, and I always enjoy seeing so many of my peers and getting to catch up with everyone at these events.
What’s your favorite place to eat on or around campus?
One of my favorite spots around campus is Annie’s Sandwiches–their bahn mi and smoothies are so good!