Benita Menezes

Benita Menezes is a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow and Assistant Director at the University Writing Program of Johns Hopkins University. Her academic training includes a PhD in Anthropology, a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Mumbai.

Research Interests: Benita's work examines the intersection of anthropology, urban planning, and architecture, focusing on agrarian kinship conflicts, land rights, and collective action in rural India. Her pedagogical approach is informed by fieldwork in South Asia and a decade of experience with nonprofit organizations, urban design think tanks, and architecture schools in Mumbai and Vancouver.

Teaching Contributions: She has designed and taught courses such as Architectures of Writing and Dogs, Plants, Fungi and the Anthropocene, while also serving as a tutor at the Writing Centre. Her leadership in curriculum development was recognized through the Dean’s Teaching Fellowship.

Awards and Recognition:

• Dean’s Teaching Fellowship (2023)

Professional Background: Benita brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her teaching, shaped by her academic background and practical work in urban design and architectural education across India and Canada.