Central Valley Air Quality Coalition
Dr. Catherine Garoupa White is the Executive Director of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ), spearheading policy advocacy for clean air in the San Joaquin Valley. Garoupa White has 15 years of policy advocacy experience and previously worked as a community organizer and CVAQ Director from 2006 to 2011, winning collaborative campaigns such as the incorporation of near roadway air monitoring requirements into the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particle pollution. While pursuing a PhD in Geography at UC Davis, she worked on community engaged research projects to promote equitable, sustainable development. From 2016 to 2019, she coordinated efforts for a just transition away from extreme oil and gas extraction with Californians Against Fracking and Dangerous Drilling. Complementary to her advocacy, Dr. Garoupa White has taught college classes in social work and community and regional development, and is currently a lecturer at CSU Stanislaus and Columbia College.