I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies (PPLSS) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. My research interests are at the intersection of environmental and social policy, examining critical challenges such as pollution, climate change, and sustainability through an environmental justice and policy-oriented lens. Utilizing causal inference methods, I am particularly interested in how marginalized communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental toxins and how that exposure subsequently affects health, education, and crime outcomes. 

I hold a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from American University (2023), an MPP from the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy (2018), and a BA in International Development Studies from UCLA (2016).

Email: sarah.chung@utrgv.edu