Valorie Aquino
City of Cincinnati – Office of Environment and Sustainability
VALORIE AQUINO is a researcher and nonprofit executive with 15+ years of experience integrating earth and social sciences for high-impact projects. Bridging sectors, she co-founded an advocacy partner network that achieved collective impact for science-inspired civic engagement. The American Anthropological Association honored her with their Executive Director’s Award for her timely work galvanizing public engagement with science. She pursued formal studies in anthropology and earth sciences, receiving her B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and completing a M.S. and doctoral-level work at the University of New Mexico.
Project
The community of Cincinnati aims to address climate change-related risks through policy changes and sustainable practices, including incentivizing green infrastructure projects and equitable restructuring of sewer rates. FUSE Executive Fellow Valorie Aquino will lead efforts to develop a climate adaptation strategy for the metropolitan sewer infrastructure by analyzing climate risks, engaging stakeholders, and forming a diverse coalition. Valorie will prioritize historically marginalized communities, draw lessons from successful programs, and secure funding to mitigate storm impacts while promoting environmental justice.