Melina Rodriguez is a Research Associate at LOSH. She supports several research projects and is currently assisting with the study investigating the health and safety of migrant workers responding to climate-related disasters in California. She received her MPH in Community Health Sciences from UCLA and holds a BS in Public Health from Cal State LA.

Melina brings over six years of community organizing experience and over two years of community-based research experience. She is passionate about immigrant justice and its intersection with worker health and public health. Growing up in an immigrant community, Melina learned first-hand how the well-being of families and the broader community is significantly affected by workplace disparities stemming from workers’ immigration status. She believes occupational health and safety are critical factors for improving community health and values the power of community-based research to drive meaningful and equitable change.

Outside of work, Melina enjoys exploring LA’s diverse food scene, solving word puzzles, spending time with her family at their carne asada gatherings, and lounging around with her two cats.