Aneesa Gomez-Cervantes

Aneesa Gomez-Cervantes is a Ph.D. candidate in the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, where she studies groundwater governance, finance, and water policy in California. Her dissertation examines how local financing and governance decisions under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) influence the distribution of costs, access to water, and long-term groundwater sustainability. Her research integrates environmental policy, institutional analysis, and spatial data to better understand how financial and governance structures influence equitable water management.

Before joining UCLA, Aneesa graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Environmental Science and a minor in Global Sustainability. She conducted water policy research through Water UCI, supporting California’s Water Resilience Portfolio, and later worked in environmental compliance and hazardous materials regulation with the County of Orange.

Beyond her dissertation, Aneesa has contributed to projects on drought resilience, drinking water systems, and collaborative water governance. She is passionate about advancing research that informs more equitable and financially sustainable water policy while supporting the next generation of environmental leaders through teaching and mentorship. Outside of research, she enjoys surfing, reading, caring for her plants, and playing pickleball.