Born and raised in Tulare County, a region at the heart of California’s agricultural industry, Fabiola Moncerrat Perez-Lua has always felt a deep connection to her community. Her interests span from running and playing soccer to discovering new coffee shops, taking care of her plants, and spending time with her dog, Solo. Beyond personal hobbies, she is deeply engaged in advocacy efforts for Latinos, immigrants, and farmworkers, dedicating time to organizations that support these communities.
Her academic journey began at UC Santa Barbara, where she studied human evolutionary biology, initially considering a career in medicine or paleobiology. However, after working in housing at UCSB and in an ophthalmology clinic, she realized her true passion lay in addressing the root causes of health inequities rather than direct patient care. Witnessing the struggles of uninsured Latino workers, including her own parents, she was driven to understand the larger structural forces impacting immigrant health. A pivotal moment came when she discovered the research of Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young at UC Merced. Their conversation solidified her decision to pursue public health research, focusing on the policies and systems shaping Latino and immigrant well-being.
At UC Merced, her research examines how immigration policies and the economic power of the U.S. agriculture industry affect Latino, immigrant, and farmworker health. Her work explores how these forces perpetuate social inequities, erode worker protections, and contribute to both physical and mental health stressors. Over the past five years, she has published six peer-reviewed papers, presented at national conferences, and received recognition from the American Public Health Association’s Latino Caucus. She was also awarded a Dissertation Year Fellowship, underscoring the impact of her work.
Her commitment extends beyond research—she served as President of the Public Health Graduate Group and collaborated with the Rural Health Equity and Learning Coalition and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center to advocate for immigrant workforce and health needs.
Looking ahead, she aspires to secure a faculty position where she can continue her research and inform policies that address public health inequities. Her advice to future students? “Work a little each day, trust the process, and surround yourself with people who inspire you. And always make time for what brings you joy.”
