Environmental Justice Advocate’s Urban and Public Affairs Research Impacts Louisville

July 8, 2024

Sam Satterly, an Iraq War veteran, has channeled her dedication to service into a passionate commitment to environmental justice. While earning her MS in Sustainability Studies from the Urban and Public Affairs Department, Sam took an influential environmental justice class with Sociology Department Chair Lauren Heberle. This pivotal experience led her to continue working with Lauren through the Superfund Research Center Community Engagement Core.

Through the impact of Sam’s research, recently featured in the Courier Journal, the community is now addressing critical environmental issues, including research that shed more light on ongoing issues at the Valley of the Drums, a notorious toxic waste site which has been unresolved for many years.

This research and work aim to bring awareness and solutions to this pressing problem, highlighting the importance of community engagement and sustainable practices.

Read more about Sam's inspiring journey and their vital research in the full story. Click here.