Areas of research

Climate Inequality

SP2 faculty demonstrate the School’s understanding of the climate crisis as a significant social justice issue, brought on by structural oppression, resulting in human vulnerabilities and inequities. They are committed to addressing climate justice through mitigation, anticipation, adaptation, and community action.

Femida Handy

FEATURED FACULTY

Femida Handy, PhD

Professor; PhD, York (Canada), 1995. Volunteering; volunteering & health; global philanthropy; corporate social responsibility; environmental habitus.

R. Jisung Park

FEATURED FACULTY

R. Jisung Park, PhD

Assistant Professor; PhD, Harvard University. Environmental economics; labor economics; climate change; economic inequality; policy evaluation.

Alice Xu

FEATURED FACULTY

Alice Xu, PhD

Assistant Professor; PhD, Harvard University. Inequality and social policy, urban and distributive politics, environmental politics, quantitative and spatial methods, Latin America, Global South.

Chenyi Ma

FEATURED FACULTY

Chenyi Ma, MSW, PhD

Research Assistant Professor; PhD, University of Pennsylvania. Social epidemiology, disaster vulnerability and urban resilience.

Siva Mathiyazhagan

FEATURED FACULTY

Siva Mathiyazhagan

Related News

SP2's Caster building is pictured from the opposite side of Locust Walk, with green trees and plants around and against the building.

SP2 climate inequality projects awarded Penn grants

With a growing focus on climate inequality, Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) recognizes the climate crisis as a significant social justice issue. Recent University-level grants to SP2 faculty and staff demonstrate the School’s innovative work in this area.

Alice Xu

Alice Xu awarded 2024 Harold D. Lasswell Award for best dissertation in the field of public policy

The American Political Science Association (APSA) has announced that SP2 Assistant Professor Alice Xu is the recipient of the 2024 Harold D. Lasswell Award, presented annually by the APSA to honor the best doctoral dissertation in the field of public policy. The APSA is the leading professional organization for the study of political science.

Chenyi Ma teaching

Exploring sustainable development & the human impact of natural disasters

What factors allow people to prepare for and recover from natural disasters? Dr. Chenyi Ma, a research assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), conducts interdisciplinary research that investigates the role of inequality in disasters’ impact and points to policy solutions.