Thesis/Project Advisors

Joshua Baur

Associate Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

joshua.baur@sjsu.edu
408-924-5841  |  WSQ 115E
Email for appointment

Ph.D., Forest Resources, College of Forestry Oregon State University

Top Research Interests:

• Relationship between urban dwellers and nature
• Links between health and nature
• Public attitudes and perception about environmental issues
• Nature-spirituality connections

Katherine Cushing

Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

katherine.cushing@sjsu.edu
408-924-6951 | WSQ 118B

Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Stanford University

Top Research Interests:

• Water Reuse
• Environmental Policy Implementation
• Environmental Education

Dustin Mulvaney

Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

dustin.mulvaney@sjsu.edu
408-924-5439  |  WSQ 115A
Email for appointment

Ph.D., Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

Top Research Interests:

• Political Ecology
• Science & Technology Studies
• Solar Power Commodity Chains
• Land Use & Recycling

Rachel O'Malley

Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

rachel.omalley@sjsu.edu
831-334-1066  |  WSQ 118A

Ph.D., Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

Top Research Interests:

• Insect Ecology
• Conservation & Restoration
• Environmental Justice & Impact Assessment
• International & CA Coastal Sustainable Agriculture

Costanza Rampini

Associate Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

costanza.rampini@sjsu.edu
408-924-8979 | WSQ 111C
No advising Fall 2025

Ph.D., Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz

Top Research Interests:

• Human Dimensions of Climate Change
• Risks & Disasters
• Environmental Justice

Will Russell

Professor
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

will.russell@sjsu.edu
WSQ 115B
Email for appointment

Ph.D., Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley

Top Research Interests:

• Forest Disturbance & Recovery
• Fire Ecology
• Ecosystem Restoration

Lynne Trulio

Professor, Emeritus
ENVS, MS Thesis Advisor

lynne.trulio@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis

Top Research Interests:

• Conservation Biology
• Avian Biology
• Human-Wildlife Interactions
• Impacts of Recreation on Wildlife
• Burrowing Owl Ecology & Conservation

Judi Heher

Lecturer
GISC, MS Project Advisor

judith.heher@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

MA, San José State University
MUP, San José State University

Sophie Kelmenson

Assistant Professor
GEOG, MA Project Advisor

WSQ 218B
sophie.kelmenson@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Ayda Kianmehr

Assistant Professor
GISC, MS Project Advisor

ayda.kianmehr@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

Marcel Moran

Assistant Professor
GISC, MS Project Advisor

marcel.moran@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

Kathrine Eileen Richardson

Professor
GEOG, MA Project Advisor

408-924-5490  |  WSQ 111D
kathrine.richardson@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of British Columbia

Ahoura Zandiatashbar

Associate Professor
GISC, MS Project Advisor

408-924-5480  |  CL 406
ahoura.zandiatashbar@sjsu.edu

PhD, University of Texas at Arlington

Gordon Douglas

Professor
MUP Planning Report Advisor

408-924-5852
gordon.douglas@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of Chicago

Laureen Hom

Associate Professor
MPA Project Advisor

408-924-5827  |  WSQ 216D
laureen.hom@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of California, Irvine

Sophie Kelmenson

Assistant Professor
MPA Project Advisor
MUP Planning Report Advisor

WSQ 218B
sophie.kelmenson@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Charles Rivasplata

Lecturer
MUP Planning Report Advisor

WSQ 218C
charles.rivasplata@sjsu.edu
Email for appointment

PhD, University of California, Davis