Faranak Miraftab

Faranak Miraftab is a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She leads the Transnational Planning Stream at DURP and holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA from the Norwegian Institute of Technology, and undergraduate studies at Tehran University’s College of Fine Arts. Her work bridges urban studies, sociology, and feminist theory, focusing on globalization’s impact on urban development, social justice, and marginalized groups’ struggles for dignity. Notable awards include the University Scholar distinction (2014) and book awards for her work Global Heartland (2016). She teaches courses on planning theory, transnational urbanism, and global inequalities, advising students on topics like displacement in Pakistan and transnational care networks. Miraftab’s research spans Latin America, South Africa, and the U.S., exploring grassroots movements, urban governance, and the intersections of race, gender, and class. Her interdisciplinary approach emphasizes solidarity-based planning and radical care frameworks.