Professor Michael T. Schmeltz, DrPH, MS

New

New 21/11/2025

Dr. Michael T. Schmeltz, is an Associate Professor of Public Health at California State University, East Bay, where his work focuses on the intersection of climate change, environmental health, and public policy. His research examines how social and structural factors influence community vulnerability to environmental hazards such as extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and air pollution. Applying a health-in-all-policies framework, Dr. Schmeltz works to integrate public health and equity considerations into climate governance, policy design, and adaptation strategies.

Dr. Schmeltz’s professional background spans over two decades in academia and government. As a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, he served with the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, providing analysis on federal environmental and health funding priorities for the Dept. of Interior, U.S. EPA, Chemical Safety Board, and related agencies. In his role as an Air Quality Scientist/Climate Policy Analyst at the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, he developed regional greenhouse gas reduction strategies and advanced community engagement on transportation and air quality policies. Earlier in his career, as an Environmental Health Scientist at the New York City Department of Health, he focused on environmental risk communication and public preparedness for extreme weather and chemical exposure events.

Dr. Schmeltz has served in advisory and expert roles with the U.S. EPA and the California Air Resources Board, providing guidance on environmental justice screening tools, vulnerability mapping, and cumulative impact assessment. Across these roles, Dr. Schmeltz has consistently worked to bridge science and policy to advance environmental justice, resilience, and healthier communities.

He earned a BS in Biomedical Research and Clinical Sciences at Boston University, a MS in Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (Industrial Hygiene) at Hunter College, and a DrPH from the Public Health program (now the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy) at the CUNY Graduate Center. He did his post-doctoral work at the US EPA from 2015-2017 as an Environmental Health Fellow through the Association of Schools and Program of Public Health (ASPPH).

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