Aaron B. Flores

Aaron Flores is an assistant professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University. His research examines distributional environmental justice, social vulnerability, and hazard risk perception, with particular attention to flooding, extreme heat, and the uneven distribution of environmental burdens across communities. He uses quantitative methods, Geographic Information Systems, and large geospatial datasets to investigate how structural inequalities shape exposure to environmental risks and shape access to resources. His recent work draws on community-engaged partnerships alongside more traditional research methods and has informed planning and public health practice in the Phoenix metropolitan area and beyond. He has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is an NSF Enabling Fellow, a distinction awarded to early-career scholars advancing research on hazards and disasters. His broader research program also addresses food insecurity and environmental health outcomes, particularly as they intersect with social vulnerability and place-based disadvantage. He teaches courses in GIS, environmental justice, urban planning, and statistics, and is committed to training the next generation of scholars equipped to address pressing environmental and social challenges. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in geography from Texas Tech University and a PhD in geography from the University of Utah.