Jill Harrison
Professor of Geography • Environmental Justice • Environmental Politics • Political Ecology • Agriculture and Food Systems • PhD, University of California at Santa Cruz, 2006
Human Geography • Environment-Society
jill.harrison@colorado.edu

Research Interests

My research helps identify听the cultural relations and political economic processes that disproportionately听situate听members of racially marginalized, Indigenous, and working-class听communities in dangerous spaces and precarious conditions that听contribute to听inequalities in life opportunity, illness, and death. I also identify ways the听state, social movements, and other institutions can听more effectively redress听those inequalities. I have done so through various cases of environmental and听workplace inequality in the听contemporary United States. In addition to the areas of research described below, I advise the U.S. government agencies on its听environmental听justice reform efforts through serving on the National Environmental听Justice Advisory Council of the听U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I co-founded and have helped direct CU Boulder鈥檚 Graduate Certificate in Environmental Justice.听

My current major research project examines听the disappointing pace of environmental regulatory agencies鈥� 鈥渆nvironmental听justice鈥澨�(EJ) programs and policies as a case through which to understand听why, despite reducing environmental hazards for the nation听overall,听agencies have not improved conditions in places enduring the听greatest environmental burdens. Other scholars have shown that material听factors outside the control of agency staff 鈥� budget cuts, limits to听regulatory authority, industry pressure, and underdeveloped analytical听tools 鈥� constrain the possibilities for EJ reforms to regulatory practice. My听research builds upon that work, focusing instead on听demonstrating how听agencies鈥� EJ reform efforts are also undermined by elements of regulatory听workplace culture that transcend changes听in administration.听At the same time,听my publications听and听outreach offer practical suggestions for how agencies can more effectively听reduce environmental听inequalities that deeply affect the lives of so many听Americans, and they show how agencies鈥� EJ staff 鈥� those tasked with developing听EJ听reforms 鈥� endeavor to change both regulatory practice and regulatory culture听from the inside out. I have been invited to听present my research on the challenges facing government agencies鈥� EJ reform听efforts to the executive听leadership and other staff at numerous environmental听regulatory agencies, including at听the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),听California EPA, the听California Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Minnesota听Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota鈥檚 Environmental Quality Board,听the听California Fish and Game Commission, and the California Natural Resources听Agency. You听can read about my research in articles in听,听罢丑别听颁辞濒辞谤补诲补苍, and .

In another recent project, my colleagues and I identified cultural challenges听facing听universities鈥櫶齟fforts to address environmental precarity through听鈥渆ngineering-for-development鈥澨�(EfD) programs that train engineering students to help solve problems in听developing听communities, including pertaining to shelter, drinking water access, sanitation,听and affordable energy. I conducted this听NSF-funded research听in collaboration with Shawhin Roudbari (Environmental Design,听University of Colorado), Jessica听Kaminsky (Engineering, University of听Washington), Santina Contreras (Public Policy, University of Southern听California), and Skye听Niles (University of Colorado).听

My recent research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the American听Council of Learned Societies, the American Philosophical Society, and the听University听of Colorado.

Recent Courses Taught

  • Spring 2024听 GEOG 3782 Environmentalism, Race, and Justice
  • Fall 2023听 GEOG 4772听 The Geography of Food and Agriculture
  • Spring 2023听 GEOG 3782 Environmentalism, Race, and Justice
  • Spring 2023听 GEOG/COMM/ENVS/PSCI 7118听 Environmental Justice鈥�
  • Fall 2022听 GEOG 4772听 The Geography of Food and Agriculture

Selected Publications

Updated January 2023