Michael Rios

Michael Rios is Professor of Urban Design and Vice Provost of Public Scholarship and Engagement at the University of California, Davis, where he has taught in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design program since 2007. He serves on the Community Development, Geography, and Cultural Studies Graduate Groups and previously chaired the Community Development Graduate Group (2011-2015).

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Architecture and Urban Studies from Lehigh University
• Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning from UC Berkeley
• Ph.D. in Geography from Penn State University

Rios' research centers on community engagement, placemaking, and the social practice of urban design, with emphasis on Latino communities and participatory processes. He investigates how marginalized groups shape public spaces through cultural practices and political efficacy, bridging urban design, community development, and social justice. His work challenges conventional design paradigms by centering community agency in spatial production.

Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal consistent focus on advancing community development education and engaged scholarship. Key themes include faculty motivations for public engagement, frameworks for community-based design evaluation, and cultural dimensions of placemaking. His scholarship demonstrates growing institutional interest in recognizing public scholarship while addressing persistent inequities in housing, workforce participation, and democratic practice.

As principal investigator, Rios has secured significant external funding including a USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant (2018-2020) assessing U.S. community development education, a California Department of Housing curriculum on fair housing (2016-2017), an AARP-funded participatory research initiative on affordable housing narratives (2015-2016), and a U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant for international student exchanges (2002-2005). These projects reflect his commitment to translating research into community impact through participatory action frameworks.