Flor Sandoval
I have been with SERI since 2009 when I started as a volunteer. I am now the Program Director and oversee the day-to-day operations of SERI. I currently manage our Low-Income Rainwater Harvesting Program, our Pollution Prevention Program for Small Businesses in partnership with the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, and Project Harvest a joint project with the SWES College of Agriculture and Life Sciences also at the University of Arizona, in which I’m a co-project investigator. I enjoy working with the community in creating a sustainable future together.
Palmira Henriquez
I have been working with SERI since 2008 as a Promotora, and I love working with the community on environmental health issues. I am currently the Program Manager for our home visit program. Each day I work with families to make their home environment safer and healthier. I also oversee our volunteer program and coordinate our Promotora Certificate Program. I have a Community Health Advisor Certificate from Pima Community College, in Tucson, AZ and a Business Administration Certificate and Accounting Certificate from the Instituto Tecnológico del Mar in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico. I have an Urban Forestry Certificate from the Tucson Botanical Gardens and was trained on the installation of rainwater harvesting passive systems by Ethos Rainwater Harvesting.
Imelda Cortez
I worked at SERI as a volunteer in 2008 visiting mechanic, paint, and body shops to encourage these business owners to be more conscientious about taking care of our environment by recycling any scrap, waste or oil from the cars. Now I am an employee, I love this job because it gives me the opportunity to help and serve my community what is my passion. Through this program I have the opportunity to provide information about programs regarding health, the environment and a higher quality life style. I have a certificate of business administration from the technological bachillerato from Cananea, Sonora. I have a Community Health Advisory certificate from Pima Community College. I am the recipient of a health counselor certificate and a childcare provider certificate both provided by Pima Community College, and a Certification of Business from Eller College of the University of Arizona and global warming training from the University of Arizona.
Rachel Spitz
Rachel enjoys promoting and educating the community on programs and projects that support community environmental health, the environment, and sustainable living. Rachel is responsible for the communications for SERI through online and traditional media along with outreach including building relationships with partners in the community. Rachel has a B.A. in Communication and a minor in Photography from the University of Arizona with 3+ years of experience in communications and marketing. She is currently a board member of Ad 2 Tucson, an affiliate of the American Advertising Association.
Theresa Foley
I am the SERI Climate Science Specialist. Climate change is already occurring in Tucson, bringing higher temperatures and the risk of water scarcity in an already arid climate. SERI seeks to provide information for the mitigation of climate change, especially in the underserved community of south metropolitan Tucson. My collaboration with SERI began in 2008, when I was awarded a NASA Space Grant to study air pollution in south metropolitan Tucson. After earning a PhD in Atmospheric Science from the University of Arizona in 2012, I was awarded a two year fellowship with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where I used a geographic information system to verify the accuracy of weather forecasting. I have a BS in Chemistry from Northeastern Illinois, and a BS in Biology from De Paul University. Before returning to graduate school, I worked for ten years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as an atmospheric chemist. I also worked as the Landfill Specialist for the City of Janesville, Wisconsin and did consulting work for the Lake Michigan Air Directors' Consortium.