Nisha Botchwey

Nisha Botchwey serves as Dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota since January 2022. Previously, she held roles including Associate Dean for Academic Programs at Georgia Tech Professional Education, tenured Associate Professor at Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning, and Adjunct Professor at Emory University’s School of Public Health. She also taught at the University of Virginia’s Department of Urban and Environmental Planning from 2003 to 2011.

Education:

• PhD in City and Regional Planning (University of Pennsylvania, 2003)
• Master of Public Health (University of Virginia, 2011)
• Master of City and Regional Planning (University of Pennsylvania, 1999)
• AB in Environmental Science and Public Policy (Harvard University, 1997)

Research Interests: Dr. Botchwey focuses on the intersection of environmental and health policy, emphasizing the built environment’s impact on public health. Her work prioritizes youth engagement, health equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration between public health, urban planning, and design. She directs the Healthy Places Lab, advancing solutions for equitable, sustainable communities.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2021 Dale Prize for Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning
• 2016 White House Council on Women and Girls Recognition
• NSF ADVANCE Woman of Excellence Faculty Award
• Hesburgh Award Teaching Fellowship

Grants & Advising: Secured over $16M in grants as Principal Investigator or Co-PI across 30+ projects. Advises interdisciplinary training programs linking public health and community design. Convenes national expert panels on workforce development.

Labs & Teams: Founder of the Healthy Places Lab at Georgia Tech, fostering research on health-promoting urban design and environmental justice.