Rex LaMore

Rex LaMore serves as Director of Michigan State University's Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and is an affiliated faculty member in the Urban and Regional Planning Program. With over 40 years of experience, he has pioneered innovative approaches to revitalizing distressed communities through equitable and sustainable development frameworks.

His educational credentials include:

• B.S. from Michigan State University
• M.S. from Michigan State University
• Ph.D. from the University of Michigan

Dr. LaMore's research revolutionizes community development through the "Science of Domicology" – his coined term reimagining the built environment's life cycle to maximize material salvage, eliminate blight, and create circular economies. Current work emphasizes circular economy integration, sustainable planning, and leveraging arts/culture for entrepreneurial capacity in underserved communities.

His distinguished contributions are recognized by:

• Community Development Society's Distinguished Service Award (1995)
• Michigan Economic Developers Association Educator of the Year Award (2008)
• Michigan State University Distinguished Academic Specialist (2011)

Dr. LaMore secures federal and foundation funding for transformative university-community partnerships including the U.S. Department of Commerce EDA University Center. His teaching legacy spans 20+ years in environmental planning and field practicums connecting students with real-world development projects, including co-teaching MSU's first Circular Economy honors course in Fall 2024.

He leads CCED's flagship initiatives: the Domicology research program advancing deconstruction economies, the Regional Economic Innovation University Center, and the Lansing Area Particle Acceleration Cluster (LanPAC) leveraging FRIB for regional economic development.