Celina Su

Celina Su is the inaugural Marilyn J. Gittell Chair in Urban Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY, and Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College. Her work bridges academic research with grassroots activism, focusing on participatory democracy, urban politics, and racial justice. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies from MIT.

Her research examines civic engagement, community development, and public policy, with fieldwork in education reform (South Bronx), refugee health (Thailand), and participatory budgeting (NYC). Key publications include Budget Justice: Racial Solidarities & Politics From Below (Princeton UP, forthcoming) and Streetwise for Book Smarts (Cornell UP).

• Awards: Berlin Prize, Harvard Ash Center Fellowship, Whiting Teaching Award
• Leadership Roles: Co-Chair, URBAN Research Network (2015–2018); NYC Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee (2011–present)
• Community Work: Co-founded Kwah Dao (Burmese Refugee Project), providing education/health services to Shan refugees.

Her creative work includes poetry collections like Landia (Belladonna*, 2018), blending academic rigor with artistic expression.