V Fixmer-Oraiz received an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa. They are currently the CEO & Founder of Astig Planning, an environmental and community planning firm committed to racial justice and social equity based in Iowa City, Iowa.  They also are an Adjunct Instructor in the Global Health Studies Program.

Their global health interests include the political and social implications of public health measures. They have lived and worked in the U.S. and the Philippines and are part of the Philippine diaspora.  Their previous research includes exploring the political and health impacts on rural bamboo farmers in the Philippines in the context of climate change.

They founded Astig Planning to utilize community organizing techniques (door knocking, phone banking, relationship building) to create community-led plans that are informed by people who are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Community engagement is at the heart of this work. As part of this work, their most recent publication, "A Flood Resilience Action Plan Guidebook," identifies community engagement processes for planners that seek to include historically and structurally marginalized community members.  They have also  been recognized for their community engagement and service as a former chair of the Iowa City Housing and Community Development Commission.

At U Iowa, V Fixmer-Oraiz teaches global health promotion classes.