Genoveva Islas was born in Fresno, California and grew up in small rural communities of the San Joaquin Valley; her parents were farm laborers. She is the first in her family to attend college and graduate with an advanced degree. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Health Science with an ...
Read moreGenoveva Islas was born in Fresno, California and grew up in small rural communities of the San Joaquin Valley; her parents were farm laborers. She is the first in her family to attend college and graduate with an advanced degree. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Health Science with an emphasis in Community Health from California State University, Fresno and received a Masters in Public Health degree in Health Education and Promotion from Loma Linda University.
Genoveva is the Program Director of Cultiva La Salud (formerly the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP)). Cultiva La Salud is dedicated to creating healthier communities in the San Joaquin Valley by creating greater access to healthy foods/beverages and increasing opportunities for physical activity. Cultiva La Salud efforts also focus on building community leadership so that residents can be more effective in advocating for change by becoming more civically engaged.
Genoveva also serves as the Principal Investigator for Public Health Institutes’ statewide effort to connect all CDC funded grantees in California under CA4Health. The project seeks to increase networking and collaboration across sites to support the successful implementation of efforts short term and advancing chronic disease prevention in California longer term.
Genoveva is the Board Chair for the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, a board member of the California Food Policy Advocates, a board member for the California Institute for Rural Studies, a board member for Community Water Center a steering committee member for California Convergence and an advisory board member for various other organizations.
Genoveva was appointed by Governor Brown to serve on the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley and the California Health Benefit Exchange Board.