Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams is an Associate Professor of Technology and Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), directing the Civic Data Design Lab within the School of Architecture and Planning. Her work bridges geographic analysis, design, and urban policy, leveraging data visualization and digital tools to democratize civic engagement. She holds degrees from Clark University (geography), the University of Pennsylvania (landscape architecture), and MIT (urban planning).

Research focuses on urban systems, spatial equity, and technology’s role in public policy. Notable projects include the Civic Data Design Lab’s interactive data tools for public discourse and the Digital Matatus project in Nairobi, which mapped informal transit systems using crowdsourced data. Her work has been exhibited at MoMA and the Guggenheim.

Williams has received accolades such as being named one of the top 25 planners in technology and a 2012 Game Changer by Metropolis Magazine. Her recent scholarship addresses racial justice in urban planning, pandemic-era mobility patterns, and the ethical use of big data.

• Labs/Teams: Civic Data Design Lab, MIT Urban Studies and Planning
• Past Affiliations: Columbia University’s Spatial Information Design Lab
• Grants/Initiatives: SMARTTRANS (Kenya transport analysis), Local Lotto (math education via lottery data)