Katherine Foo

Katherine Foo is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Integrated and Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and Co-Director of the Berlin Project Center. She holds a PhD in Geography from Clark University, alongside degrees in Poverty Studies, Landscape Architecture, and Sustainable Systems. Her work bridges urban environmental governance, landscape visualization, and social justice. Dr. Foo specializes in participatory methods such as mapping, scenario development, and design-build workshops to empower communities and foster institutional change.

Education:

• BA Poverty Studies, Williams College
• MLA Landscape Architecture, University of Michigan
• MS Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan
• PhD Geography, Clark University

Her research emphasizes environmental justice and inclusive urban planning, with projects in the US and internationally (Thailand, Cambodia, Bolivia, Guatemala). She has published in journals like Landscape Ecology, Landscape & Urban Planning, and Cities, focusing on topics such as NGO roles in governance, urban greening, and visual methodologies for social change.

Awards:

• Radcliffe/Rappaport Doctoral Public Policy Fellow
• USDA Forest Service Sustainability Science Fellow

Dr. Foo prioritizes experiential learning, teaching students to address 'wicked problems' through real-world engagement. She co-edited a Landscape and Urban Planning special issue on Critical Landscape Visualization and has led initiatives linking academic research with civic action. Her work with the Berlin Project Center reflects her commitment to global education and applied urban studies.