Lana Zimmerman (she/her) is the associate project manager of heat equity research at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI). Lana researches issues related to extreme heat to inform evidence-based heat governance. The topics of her work span the planning of built and natural shade to the analysis of existing heat legislation in the U.S., with particular focus on California’s policy landscape.

Lana’s professional mission is rooted in environmental justice. She has a background in data analytics, research translation, and community advocacy. Prior to joining LCI, Lana worked for the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute conducting quantitative analysis and research communication for the Latino Data Hub, a platform that provides tools to expand economic opportunity and political representation. Throughout her career, Lana has worked with tribal governments, community based organizations, and local government leaders.

Lana holds a Master of Public Policy from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Northridge. She is passionate about helping first-generation college students and other underrepresented groups navigate public policy spaces.