Gilberto Lopez
Assistant Professor, Transborder Studies
Professor Gilberto Lopez is an award-winning Harvard educated scholar and applied social scientist. As an inaugural Charter Professor, he leads research on addressing social and health inequities in Latino communities. He is also the founding director of El Laboratorio, an innovative research and design studio dedicated to creating impactful projects that tackle social inequities affecting Latinx communities. He is currently working on a cannabis education campaign that reimagines public health outreach for Latinx.
Dr. Lopez’s notable projects include COVIDLatino.org, a pioneering health communication campaign that delivers culturally tailored COVID-19 information to Latinos across the U.S., and the Migratory Student Summer Academy (MSSA), a STEM camp for the children of Arizona’s migrant seasonal farmworkers. These initiatives have garnered prestigious accolades, such as the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award, the Hermes Creative Award, and numerous national health organizations and film festival recognitions.
Dr. Lopez received his Ph.D. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Harvard University, an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA in Medical Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Institute at Oxford, UK. Born and raised in California's Central Valley to Mexican immigrant farmworkers, his journey from community college transfer student to Ivy League scholar fuels his unwavering commitment to social justice and empowering underrepresented communities.
Web Site:
Phoenix, AZ
Video Sample
This expert has been featured on:
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Suggested Interview Topics:
Social & Health Inequities in Latino Communities | Cannabis Education
Suggested Interview Questions:
- What do you see as the most urgent health challenges faced by Latinos today, and how are these challenges different from those faced by other communities?
- How has the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected Latino populations, particularly in rural and agricultural areas?
- What role does misinformation play in these communities' response to the pandemic, and how can it be addressed?
- You've been involved in creating culturally tailored public health campaigns, such as the COVIDLatino project. What have been the key takeaways from these campaigns in terms of effectiveness, and how can health communication be improved for underserved populations?
- Much of your work addresses the social determinants of health, particularly among immigrant and rural Latino communities. What structural changes do you believe are necessary to address these social inequities?
- As a first-generation college student and now a professor, what advice do you have for students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing higher education, particularly in fields like public health or social sciences?
- You're currently conducting research on cannabis and tobacco use among Latino youth. What trends or behaviors are you seeing, and how can public health initiatives better address substance use in this demographic?
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