Regan Patterson

Regan F. Patterson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Her academic and professional focus centers on environmental justice, transportation equity, and air pollution.

Educational Background

• Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering: University of California, Berkeley
• M.S. in Environmental Engineering: University of California, Berkeley
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

During her doctoral studies, Dr. Patterson received several prestigious fellowships, including the US EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship, the Switzer Environmental Fellowship, and the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Fellowship. After completing her Ph.D., she undertook a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.13

Professional Experience

Dr. Patterson has held various roles that combine research, policy work, and community engagement:

• She was a Transportation Equity Research Fellow at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
• Worked with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
• Engaged with organizations like Communities for a Better Environment and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice on climate justice initiatives.12

Teaching and Research

At UCLA, Dr. Patterson teaches courses related to environmental justice, including a newly developed course titled CEE 188: Engineering and Environmental Justice, which emphasizes community engagement and real-world applications of engineering principles to address environmental disparities.2 Her research has been published in various peer-reviewed journals, contributing significantly to discussions on environmental equity.14

Community Engagement

Dr. Patterson is also known for her commitment to increasing access to STEM education, having received the inaugural Impact Award from the Kapor Center for Social Impact for her efforts in this area.1 Additionally, she co-founded Black in Environment, an organization aimed at promoting diversity within environmental fields.56

Through her multifaceted career, Dr. Regan F. Patterson continues to influence both academic discourse and practical applications in civil and environmental engineering, particularly concerning equity and justice in environmental policies.