Jennifer Minner

Jennifer Minner is an Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. She directs the Just Places Lab and is actively engaged in research on urban change, memory, and equitable development. Her affiliations span urban planning, regional science, and media studies, and she serves on the faculty advisory board of Cornell Cinema.

• Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas at Austin
• M.U.R.P., Portland State University
• B.A. in Cultural Anthropology, University of Washington

Her research centers on adaptive reuse, circular economies in cities, historic preservation, and social justice. She investigates how communities care for, preserve, and reimagine places through participatory planning and material reuse. Her work connects urban policy with climate action, embodied carbon, and the social legacies of mega-events such as the Olympics and World Expos. She uses spatial analytics, film, and community-based methods to explore equitable urban futures.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward environmental justice, circular construction, and urban memory. Topics include deconstruction policy, UAVs in preservation, and post-mega-event urban development. These works span disciplines including urban planning, sustainability, media studies, and public policy, with a consistent focus on equity and community engagement.

• Town and Gown Award (2024) for CR0WD network
• Climate Neutral Cities Alliance grant on embodied carbon and justice
• Atkinson Center Fast Grant for NYS circular construction policy
• NCPTT grant on reuse scenario planning with 3D modeling
• Mui Ho Center grant on scaling circular construction in NY

Jennifer Minner mentors graduate and undergraduate researchers, co-founded the CR0WD network, and leads the CURTA-Y student club. She has secured multiple grants focused on deconstruction, policy design, and community engagement. Her teaching includes courses on circular cities, land use planning, and advanced planning theory, emphasizing participatory and justice-oriented methods.

She leads the Just Places Lab, which fosters interdisciplinary research on urban care, memory, and equity. The lab collaborates with the Circular Construction Lab, Historic Ithaca, and community partners on exhibitions, walking tours, and policy initiatives. Projects like Deconstructing Demolition and Waste(d) Imagination Tour exemplify their community-engaged, creative approach to urban sustainability.