Director and Professor, Metabolism of Cities Living Lab, HDMA, Department of Geography
San Diego State University
Dr. Gabriela Fernandez is a Professor and Graduate Advisor in the Master of Science in Big Data Analytics (BDA) Program within the Department of Geography at San Diego State University (SDSU). She is also the Director of the Metabolism of Cities Living Lab (MOC-LLAB) under the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age (HDMA) at SDSU, leading global initiatives to localize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Southern California, the Baja California Mexico region, and beyond.
Dr. Fernandez holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning, Design, and Policy from Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) in Milan, Italy. During her doctoral research, she was a Visiting Ph.D. Student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Department of Architecture, Building Technology, and Urban Metabolism Group. She also earned a B.S. in Public Administration with an emphasis in City Planning and a Master of City Planning from SDSU’s School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on urban metabolism, material flow analysis, and urban typologies, examining socioeconomic indicators while advancing public policy, smart cities, big data analytics, One Health, circular economy methods, and SDG integration, particularly in underrepresented communities.
Dr. Fernandez is actively involved in global environmental initiatives. She is a member of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Major Group for Children and Youth, a Review Editor for the UN Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), and an organizer of the One Health International Conference. Through her work, she bridges data science and urban planning to drive innovative, equitable, and sustainable solutions for cities worldwide.
Connecting Purpose, Place, and Partnerships to Advance the SDGs through Education Abroad
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
8:15 AM – 9:05 AM PST