If Isis had to be described in one word, it is bold. Her approach to research reflects intellectual courage and a deep commitment to understanding the structural forces shaping public health outcomes in her community. Her work examines Oakland’s overdose crisis through a geographic lens, seeking to uncover the systemic “why” beneath the statistics.

After repeated loss of loved ones to opioid overdose affecting her Brazilian immigrant family and community, Isis refused to accept simplified narratives surrounding the crisis. Instead, she pursued graduate study to investigate broader social, economic, and spatial dynamics. Through geography as her guiding framework and geographic information systems as her primary tool, she applies spatial analysis to reveal patterns shaped by inequality and organized abandonment.

With a 3.95 GPA, Isis has demonstrated academic excellence as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and as a presenter at the annual conference of the American Association of Geographers. Her research contributes to a more nuanced and data-informed understanding of one of the most pressing public health challenges facing urban communities.

Beyond the classroom, Isis is deeply engaged in community-based harm reduction, distributing life-saving supplies and providing public health education. She also advocates for labor and immigrant protections, contributing to workplace safety efforts and rapid response networks during periods of federal enforcement activity. Her work ensures that her academic research remains grounded in direct service and real-world impact.

After 23 years in the United States and a long path to citizenship, Isis celebrates earning her degree and becoming a U.S. citizen. She will pursue a Ph.D. to continue advancing research centered on marginalized communities.