Janni Sørensen

Janni Sørensen is an Associate Professor and Research Group Lead at the Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University (AAU), within The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. She holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2007) and a Landinspektør degree from AAU (1997). Her research focuses on participatory urban planning, coastal transition, and community organizing, with emphasis on neighborhood-scale engagement and policy implementation.

• Affiliations: AAU since 2008; previously Associate Professor at UNC Charlotte (2008–present) and Assistant Director at UIUC (2005–2008).
• Key Projects: Charlotte Action Research Project (CHARP), EmpowerUs coastal sustainability initiative, and pandemic-era studies on urban governance adaptation.

Her research interests span urban policy, spatial planning, and community empowerment, addressing issues like affordable housing, spatial segregation, and post-pandemic governance. She has led over 38 publications and secured grants from local governments and foundations.

Awards: 2017 AASCU Excellence and Innovation Award, 2018 UNC Charlotte Bonnie E Cone Professorship, and 2022 Best Article in Journal of Urban Affairs Award.

Grants and Funding: Includes projects on housing policies in Copenhagen, socio-economic empowerment of coastal communities, and pandemic-era urban governance transformations.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Land Management & Governance research group at AAU, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects involving urban planning, policy analysis, and community engagement.