Diana Mitsova

Diana Mitsova is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), holding the John DeGrove Eminent Scholar Chair in Growth Management and Development. She is also an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at FAU. Her research focuses on geospatial technologies (GIS), spatial analysis, and statistical methods to address challenges in sustainable urban planning, environmental management, and climate adaptation. Key areas include infrastructure resilience during extreme events, sea-level rise vulnerability, health impacts of climate change, and disaster recovery.

Her work has been funded by major grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), FEMA, Florida Sea Grant, and The Nature Conservancy. Dr. Mitsova’s contributions include developing computational frameworks for assessing infrastructure interdependencies and co-authoring the book Geospatial Applications for Climate Adaptation Planning (2019), which explores geospatial tools for climate vulnerability assessment. She leads interdisciplinary research initiatives through FAU’s Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety and the Visual Planning Technology Laboratory.

Recent studies examine hurricane recovery disparities, heat vulnerability in urban areas, and the role of greenspaces in cognitive health. Her research integrates environmental, social, and technological dimensions to advance equitable and resilient urban futures.

• Education: Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning
• Grants: NSF CMMI #1541089, #2028968; FEMA/Florida Emergency Management; Kresge Foundation
• Labs: Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety, Visual Planning Technology Laboratory

Awards include the John DeGrove Eminent Scholar Chair, recognizing her leadership in growth management and environmental policy.