Alicia studied politics at the intersection of development and the environment, focusing on how collective action interacted with local politics to influence sustainable development. By combining a deep understanding of the social and political realities of local contexts with cutting-edge climate data, her research at the BSPL lab illuminated the relationship between human and natural systems.

Alicia’s research interests include the political economy of development, environmental politics and policymaking, distributive politics, and statistical methods. Her broader research agenda examines the politics of natural disasters, natural resource management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.

Alicia received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University in 2019, a Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) from UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy & Strategy in 2013, and a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University in 2008. She now works as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University.