Johanna Avelar Portillo earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and Master of Arts in Geography from California State University, Long Beach. Born in El Salvador, a densely populated country where many people have limited or no access to clean drinking water, Johanna is interested in researching the role that various factors, especially gender, play in access to food, water and sanitation services throughout the world. She has presented posters and papers at a number of conferences and, most recently, has served as a study research associate at the UCLA Reed Neurological Research Center where she helps facilitate clinical trials with the UCLA Division of Stroke and Vascular Neurology. Johanna has been active in community outreach and service and is a member of several professional organizations including the California Geographical Society and Association of Pacific Coast Geographers.
