Dr. Charisma Acey

Biography

Charisma Acey is an associate professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning. Her background includes significant work and research experience in various countries, including West Africa, Southern Africa, and Central America, focusing on local and regional environmental sustainability and issues such as poverty reduction, urban governance, and environmental justice. Her research uses quantitative, participatory, and qualitative approaches to understand individual and household demands for improved infrastructure and environmental amenities. Her current research projects involve fieldwork in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, exploring sustainable household-scale energy solutions and access to basic services like water and sanitation. Acey's past work has included participatory re-zoning for local healthy food systems and sustainability planning in regions such as San Francisco’s East Bay, Columbus, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon. Before joining UC Berkeley, she served as an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, where she was involved in global food justice issues. Additionally, Acey has six years of international experience as a senior manager in relief and development NGOs in various regions. She has also participated as a U.S. State Department Fellow in Malawi and as an American Marshall Memorial Fellow in Europe.

Research Interests

Experience