Jennifer S. Carrera is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Environmental Science and Policy at Michigan State
University. Her research focuses on environmental justice issues around water access and water quality, with an
emphasis on low-income communities in the United States. Dr. Carrera’s research focuses on community capacity
to lead environmental health and health equity research and pathways through which academic partners can
support community research agendas. She uses a racial equity lens in considering the production and
management of environmental health knowledge. Dr. Carrera is currently engaged in community based
participatory research with partners in Flint, Michigan. This work considers the local knowledge of Flint residents in
responding to a public health crisis and the implications that this knowledge has on the broader understanding of
environmental health literacy. As an environmental sociologist, Dr. Carrera is particularly interested in advancing
theoretical frames exploring racial capitalism, its impact on marginalized environments, and the ability of residents in
those environments to mobilize citizenship claims to promote the wellbeing of their communities. Additionally, she is
interested in increasing capacity for sympathetic academics to support the leadership directions of communities in
the pursuit of community expressed needs and goals.