Qingfang Wang, Ph.D. | Faculty Director

Dr. Qingfang Wang is a Professor of Geography and Public Policy, and the Faculty Director of the Center for Community Solutions. Her research and teaching interests lie broadly in inequality and development, with particular concern for underserved communities (e.g. immigrants, people of color, and women) and is supported by the National Science Foundation, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Kauffman Foundation, and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, among other organizations. She is particularly interested in issues of racial/ethnic labor market segmentation, fostering inclusive entrepreneurship, higher education, community and regional development, and the transnational migration of knowledge and labor.

Dr. Wang received a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia and M.S. from the Central University of Finance and Economics in China. Previously, she served as the Academic Director for the Inland Center for Sustainable Development.

Justine Ross, Ph.D. | Executive Director 

Dr. Justine Ross is the Executive Director of the Center for Community Solutions. Drawing upon nearly a decade of experience with four School of Public Policy research centers, she is responsible for developing a strategic plan to help guide CCS’ growth, meeting with community leaders from local government, non-profit organizations, and businesses to identify major public policy questions of local importance, and convening with Center personnel to devise research methods that address these questions. Further, she oversees the Center’s student fellows program.

Dr. Ross received a Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Riverside, a Bachelor’s from UC Irvine, and is completing her M.B.A. at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business. Previously, she worked in Government Affairs for a higher-education company and managed the county operations of a national presidential campaign.

Beth Tamayose, Ph.D. | Director, Community-Engaged Research

Dr. Beth Tamayose is the Director of Community-Engaged Research for the Center of Community Solutions, where she is responsible for grant-writing, overseeing the Center’s day-to-day research administration, and collaborating with Center faculty, staff, and community partners on the Center’s research agenda. She brings both academic and practitioner experience in urban planning, having worked on policy issues at a variety of levels.

Dr. Tamayose has a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from UCLA and a Master’s in Regional Planning from Cornell University. Previously, she was the Research Director at UCR’s Center for Social Innovation.

Kristen Kopko | Research Manager

Kristen Kopko is the Center for Community Solutions’ Research Manager, responsible for contributing to the Center’s research, particularly as it relates to developing insights into state, regional, and local interests and policy. She brings broad exposure to a variety of policy topics, including but not limited to community, housing, warehousing, transportation, and local / land use policy.

Previously, Kristen was the Research Manager of the Inland Center for Sustainable Development and an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles. As Research Manager of ICSD, Kristen oversaw research on matters relevant to Southern California with emphasis on transportation, housing, and sustainability. She earned her Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago in 2023, and her B.A. in Political Science and History in 2019 from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with Highest Departmental Honors in Research.

Brenda Tontz | Graduate Research Assistant

Brenda Tontz is a second year Master’s student in the School of Public Policy and a Graduate Student Researcher at the University of California, Riverside. She received her B.A. in Political Science from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Her research interests center on urban and regional planning and land use policy, with a particular focus on how local planning decisions shape housing, community development, the built environment, and economic development.

She is especially interested in examining how climate and environmental factors intersect with policy to impact health outcomes, particularly in underserved and underrepresented communities. Her work aims to inform more equitable, sustainable, and economically vibrant local policy solutions. She brings strong skills in interviewing, qualitative research, and geographic information systems (GIS), which she uses to analyze spatial patterns and elevate community perspectives in planning and policy discussions.

Rachel Strausman | Graduate Research Assistant

Rachel Strausman is a Graduate Student Researcher for the Center for Community Solutions. Her research interests include the criminal legal system, housing policy, and education policy. Rachel earned her B.A. in Public Policy in 2025 from UC Riverside, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, and will graduate with her Master’s in Public Policy from UC Riverside in June 2026. She is also a Randall Lewis Policy Fellow, working with the Riverside County Office of Homeless Services.

Previously, Rachel served as the Dean’s Chief Ambassador for the UC Riverside School of Public Policy and was the host and manager of the School’s official podcast, Policy Chats. 

Munazza Khalid | Graduate Research Assistant

Munazza Khalid is a Master of Public Policy (MPP) student at the University of California, Riverside, with her program scheduled to conclude in June 2026. Originally from Pakistan, she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on educational management. She is the recipient of the Public Policy Fellowship and the Bob Stockton Environmental Policy Scholarship Award, in recognition of her academic achievements and commitment to meaningful policy work. With professional experience in the non-profit sector in Pakistan, Munazza has been involved in initiatives aimed at advancing social impact and community development. Her policy interests broadly center on promoting equity, community solutions, and reforms through inclusive and evidence-based approaches.