Jennifer Rodriguez is a senior from a small agricultural town called Orange Cove in Fresno County. Jennifer grew up without a car in her rural community and dealt with hardships getting to grocery stores and appointments, especially during extreme heat in the Central Valley. Upon moving to Berkeley, she noticed the stark difference between public transportation in her community and in the Bay Area. After taking several classes that discussed city planning, she became interested in working in transportation planning to help increase accessibility and mobility in low-income communities like her own. She is passionate about community engagement in city planning and increasing sustainable transportation, such as buses and safe active transportation, to address the disproportionate health impacts of climate change in low-income minority communities.
This summer, Jennifer hopes to intern for a transportation agency or government office that advocates for community engagement and equitable sustainable transportation. She plans to apply this experience and knowledge about transportation policy to work back home in Fresno County.
Major(s): Conservation and Resource Studies
Minor(s): Public Policy