John E. Mogk

John E. Mogk is the Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Chair of the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School. He has been a faculty member since 1968, focusing on urban law, property, and community development. His academic contributions include groundbreaking work on eminent domain, urban agriculture policy, and land use planning. He has held leadership roles in Detroit’s redevelopment initiatives, including chairing the Jefferson-Chalmers Citizens’ District Council and Habitat for Humanity Detroit. Mogk’s teaching spans Property Law, State and Local Government Law, and Urban Development. He has received numerous accolades, including multiple Outstanding Professor awards and recognitions for public service. His research and advocacy address critical urban issues such as affordable housing, economic development, and civil rights.

• Education: J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, Dip. of Comp. Law from University of Stockholm, B.B.A. from University of Michigan.
• Leadership Roles: Vice Chairman of Michigan Construction Code Commission, Chairman of Michigan Energy and Resource Research Association, Member of Detroit School Board.
• Grants & Funding: Secured hundreds of millions in funding for energy research and high-tech development in Michigan.

His research interests emphasize legal solutions to urban challenges, reflected in publications like Eminent Domain and the Public Use (2005) and Promoting Urban Agriculture (2010). Mogk’s articles frequently analyze intersections of law, policy, and social equity, such as opioid treatment access barriers and blight mitigation strategies.

• Key Awards: U.S. Jaycees’ Outstanding Young Man (1973), National Center for Voluntary Action’s Outstanding Volunteer (1970s), multiple legislative commendations.
• Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Wayne Law students on policy projects, such as the 2010 urban agriculture initiative with Sarah Kwiatkowski and Mary Jo Weindorf.