Elena Hernandez (she/her) is an associate project manager at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Elena began working at the Luskin Center in fall 2019 as a graduate student researcher. Her research includes the evaluation of the Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program, the nation’s most comprehensive investments in local climate action. As a staff researcher, Elena collects qualitative and quantitative data for outputs and outcomes of TCC projects.

Elena graduated with master’s degrees from UCLA in urban and regional planning and public health, with a concentration in environmental health sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies from UCLA. Elena brings her lived experience growing up in the Inland Empire to lead environmental equity work for vulnerable communities.