Karla Smith

Belonging to the Indigenous Mayan communities of the Americas, specifically from the Yucatan Peninsula region of Guatemala, Karla is deeply committed to serving and mentoring ethnically diverse populations. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida and a master's degree in public administration in healthcare from the University of Arizona. With over 11 years of experience in higher education (at Duke University and the University of Arizona), Karla has developed a passion for advocating for underrepresented groups, particularly in the areas of diversity inclusion, public health risks, and the developmental impacts of environmental hazards.

Karla is excited to collaborate with the Ramirez-Andreotta Lab, where she continues to advocate for environmental justice and health risk mitigation for the mining communities in Arizona’s copper corridor, which face significant environmental health challenges. Her work focuses on addressing the environmental risks these communities encounter and the long-term effects on their development and well-being. Currently, she is expanding her expertise through a certification in Behavioral Analysis and is applying for a PhD in Special Education. Karla’s goal is to leverage her knowledge of health and environmental risks to ensure equitable opportunities and safer environments for all, especially underrepresented and underserved communities.