María G. Méndez Guijarro is an urban planner, researcher, and lawyer dedicated to fostering resilience in communities facing climate change challenges. As an urban planning and research specialist at the Puerto Rico (PR) Science, Technology and Research Trust, Méndez Guijarro leads efforts to enhance community adaptation & resilience through community engagement and data-driven approaches. With expertise in coastal vulnerability assessment and stakeholder engagement, Méndez Guijarro has played key roles in projects such as an Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Landscape Analysis Project funded by the EEJ Program area at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and collaborating with the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH). CIROH is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Alabama through the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University.
Méndez Guijarro holds a Doctor of Law from the Inter American University of PR, a master's in urban planning from the University of PR, Río Piedras campus, as well as a bachelor's in political sciences, with a minor in international relations from the University of PR, Mayaguez Campus. Méndez Guijarro continues to contribute her expertise to community development initiatives, aiming to make a lasting difference in coastal communities throughout the Caribbean.