The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former student researcher Jennifer Riekes for her contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and her dedication to advancing the transportation systems of tomorrow.
During her time at ITS, Jennifer worked under Professor Elisa Borowski on a project titled Visualization and Synthesis of CBO-Managed Accessibility Data. Her role focused on analyzing and mapping transportation accessibility data managed by community-based organizations (CBOs), with the goal of making equity-focused transportation data more usable for policymakers and advocates. The project deepened her interest in how local knowledge and community-led data collection can shape more just and inclusive transportation systems.
Today, Jennifer is applying to graduate school as a prospective student in a dual Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program. She aims to develop interdisciplinary expertise that allows her to advance equitable, sustainable infrastructure and public health systems to serve the greater Southern California region. Her end goal is to work at the intersection of environmental health, transportation policy, and urban planning to drive systemic change through research, policy, and advocacy.
Jennifer’s research interests lie at the intersection of environmental health, transportation equity, and regional planning. She’s especially interested in how infrastructure decisions impact air quality, mobility, and public health outcomes in Southern California. She also focuses on the role of data visualization and community-based research in shaping policies that promote accessible, low-emission transportation systems. Ultimately, she’s passionate about using interdisciplinary methods to support healthier, more resilient communities across the region.
She hopes one day extended public transportation systems and walkable neighborhoods are the norm in Southern California—not the exception. Reliable, accessible transit and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure can transform communities, reducing emissions, improving public health, and fostering greater social and economic mobility. Especially in regions like Southern California, she envisions a transportation future that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and connectivity for all residents.
Author Erin Boshers is a recent graduate of Urban Studies and Literary Journalism at UC Irvine. She has conducted transportation and housing research through roles at Caltrans, the Kennedy Commission, Jamboree Housing, and the Institute of Transportation Studies.
Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.