Shannon Mattern

Shannon Mattern is the Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Media Studies and the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a secondary appointment in History of Art and teaches in the Cinema & Media Studies program. Previously, she worked at The New School from 2004-2022, winning its Distinguished University Teaching Award. Her research explores media infrastructures, archives, and the intersection of data with art/design. She leads the Metropolitan New York Library Council board and collaborates on public design projects.

Her work spans academic writing, public engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Key research areas include urban media systems, sensory media experiences, and the materiality of computational technologies. She critiques techno-centric urban planning and advocates for human-centered design approaches.

Mattern’s publications blend theoretical analysis with practical case studies, such as her books on libraries, media cities, and urban media history. Her column in Places Journal examines urban data and infrastructures. Current projects investigate furniture design’s role in intellectual labor and the ecological roots of media technologies.

• Awards: The New School’s Distinguished University Teaching Award
• Professional Roles: Board President of the Metropolitan New York Library Council