Originally posted by the College of Architecture and Planning.
Alexandra Ponette-González, Ph.D., curator of urban ecology at the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) and associate professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah (U), has been reappointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
This will be Ponette-Gonzalez’s second three-year appointment to the committee, the maximum term limit allowed, which provides independent advice to the EPA administrator, including technical guidance on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Made up of seven members from around the nation, CASAC also addresses research related to air quality, sources of air pollution, and the strategies for attaining and maintaining air quality standards and preventing significant deterioration of air quality. To fulfill that mandate, CASAC reviews criteria documents, science assessments, risk and exposure assessments, and policy-related assessments developed by the EPA.
“Ponette-Gonzalez’s reappointment to CASAC underscores her exceptional expertise and dedication to advancingenvironmental protection,” said U President Taylor R. Randall. “With her extensive knowledge and experience, she will continue to contribute invaluable insights to the committee’s work in safeguarding the nation’s air quality.”
Alexandra Ponette-González, curator of urban ecology at the Natural History Museum of Utah and associate professor of city and metropolitan planning at the U.
As an urban ecologist based in Salt Lake City, Ponette-González brings CASAC years of experience studying interactions between air quality and ecosystems in cities, forests, and grasslands. In her research being conducted at NHMU, Ponette-González is gaining a greater understanding of the impacts of particulate matter deposition toforest canopies and soils across the U.S. Ponette-González is also studying how different species of urban trees effectively capture fine particulate matter and specifically black carbon, the sooty particles emitted by vehicle tailpipes and increasingly wildfires, in various urban centers around the country, including Salt Lake City.
Within the College of Architecture and Planning, faculty members are contributing to the advancement of knowledge and shaping future professionals. In roles such as government committee appointments, like this majorreappointment, their expertise is leveraged to influence policies, drive innovation, and address pressing societal challenges. Such appointments recognize their ability to translate academic insights into real-world impact, reinforcing the critical connection between higher education and public service.
The College of Architecture and Planning proudly supports this accomplishment, with Dean Arnab Chakrabortyextending his congratulations. “We are thrilled to see Professor Ponette-Gonzalez reappointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. Her expertise in environmental policy and dedication to sustainable solutions have been invaluable in shaping important discussions at the national level. This reappointment is a well-deserved recognition of Professor Ponette-Gonzalez’s impact and stature in the field, and we look forward to her advancing the science and practice of environmental protection locally and nationally.”
Drawing on her research conducted on a local level, Ponette-González will continue playing a vital role in advising the EPA on issues at the national level.
“I am honored to serve a second term on the CASAC and look forward to working with the committee in service of national policy that protects public health and welfare,” Ponette- González said.
Ponette-González’s reappointment to the CASAC is a testament to her outstanding contributions in the field ofatmosphere-ecosystem interactions, her widely trusted expertise, and the pioneering research being conducted at NHMU and the U.