Biography
Dr. Heinz is an Assistant Professor of Practice for the University of Arizona’s School of Sociology. As an environmental sociologist, Heinz ponders the paradoxes of sustainability, and the social context that shapes the perception of urgency and risk of climate change. Dr. Heinz’s current research investigates the sociotechnical barriers to decarbonization of buildings. Dr. Heinz holds a PhD from the University of Arizona and is the author of Concrete Mirage (2025), on the paradox of sustainability certifications in resource-constrained environments. In her work, Dr. Heinz highlights the importance of centering marginalized voices to shape the future of both environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Dr. Heinz is an award-winning instructor and dedicated to helping students develop into future global thought-leaders.
In addition to academic pursuits, Dr. Heinz is an enthusiastic mountain biker, ceramicist, and painter.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Sociology
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Certified Sustainable: A Qualitative Study of Equitable Sustainability in Southwest Cities
- M.A. Sociology
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- As Many as You Can Afford: Ideal Family Size in Contemporary Uganda
- B.A. Anthropology
- University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States
- B.A. Foreign Languages: Spanish
- University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States
Interests
Research
Sociotechnical Barriers to Decarbonization of the Built EnvironmentSocial Construction of Sustainability Southwestern Cities and Water Availability Sustainability Metrics and Commensuration of Sustainability
Teaching
Environmental SociologySocial SustainabilityStratification Sociology of HappinessEconomic Sociology Urban Sociology Nonprofits Qualitative Methodology Introduction to Sociology
Courses
2025-26 Courses
-
Intro to Sociology
SOC 101 (Spring 2026) -
The Good Society
SOC 150C2 (Spring 2026) -
Environmental Sociology
SOC 307 (Fall 2025) -
The Good Society
SOC 150C2 (Fall 2025)
2023-24 Courses
-
Environmental Sociology
SOC 307 (Spring 2024) -
Environment, Health, & Society
CHS 350 (Fall 2023) -
Environment, Health, & Society
SOC 350 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Environmental Sociology
SOC 307 (Spring 2023) -
Environment, Health, & Society
CHS 350 (Fall 2022) -
Environment, Health, & Society
SOC 350 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Environmental Sociology
SOC 307 (Spring 2022) -
The Pursuit of Happiness:
SOC 357 (Winter 2021) -
Environment, Health, & Society
CHS 350 (Fall 2021) -
Environment, Health, & Society
SOC 350 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
The Pursuit of Happiness:
SOC 357 (Summer I 2021) -
Environmental Sociology
SOC 307 (Spring 2021) -
Environment, Health, & Society
CHS 350 (Fall 2020) -
Environment, Health, & Society
SOC 350 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
The Pursuit of Happiness:
SOC 357 (Summer I 2020) -
Intro to Stats for Social Sci
SBS 200 (Spring 2020) -
The Good Society
SOC 150C2 (Winter 2019) -
Intro to Stats for Social Sci
SBS 200 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Intro to Sociology
SOC 101 (Summer I 2019) -
Intro to Sociology
SOC 101 (Spring 2019) -
Intro to Sociology
SOC 101 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Poverty in Tucson Field Worksh
SOC 397A (Spring 2018) -
Intro to Helping Professions
CHS 204 (Fall 2017) -
Suffer+Care In Society
CHS 305 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Intro to Sociology
SOC 101 (Summer I 2017) -
The Pursuit of Happiness:
SOC 357 (Spring 2017) -
Intro to Helping Professions
CHS 204 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
Sex and Gender
SOC 150B2 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Heinz, E. (2025).
Concrete Mirage: Governance, Justice, and Sustainable Cities in the United States Southwest
. Bloomsbury Academic Press.More infoDaily headlines of wildfires, drought, and record-breaking heat waves have brought climate change into our cities. The urgent challenge is to build cities that can adapt and thrive in the tumult of climate change. This is especially critical for growing cities in the Southwestern United States where rising temperatures and water scarcity threaten sustainability. Concrete Mirage is a timely discussion for those who have ever wondered, “what does it mean to be a sustainable desert city?” Erin Heinz critically examines sustainability as a goal, certification, and a consoling narrative shaping the future of desert cities. Drawing on interviews with sustainability experts from Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada, Concrete Mirage reveals how economic primacy touted by third party governance and city decision-making falls short in fostering long-term viability. By confronting the mirage of sustainable development, it delivers a stark message: desert cities must adopt strategies of collective austerity if they hope to survive.
Chapters
- Heinz, E. M., & Roth, L. M. (2019). As many as I can afford: Ideal family size in Contemporary Uganda. In Reproductive Justice and Sexual Rights(pp 191-212). Routledge.
Journals/Publications
- Heinz, E. M. (2025).
Review of Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience by Lang, J.M. (2025)
. Teaching Sociology, 49(2), 162-164. - Heinz, E. (2023).
Book Review: Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses
. Teaching Sociology, 0092055X2311600. doi:10.1177/0092055x231160018 - Mayer, B. M., Helm, S. V., Heinz, E. M., Barnett, M. A., & Arora, M. (2022).
Doubt in Store: Vaccine Hesitancy among Grocery Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12. doi:10.1007/s10865-021-00276-0 - Heinz, E. (2021).
Book Review: Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead)
. Teaching Sociology, 50(1), 76-79. doi:10.1177/0092055x211063331 - Heinz, E. (2021). Book Review: Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do about It:. Teaching Sociology, 49(2), 191-194. doi:10.1177/0092055x211004376
- Heinz, E. (2020). Book Review: Small Teaching Online: Applying Learning Science in Online Classes:. Teaching Sociology, 48(2), 165-168. doi:10.1177/0092055x20910258
