Larissa Susan Larsen

Larissa Susan Larsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan, with an appointment in the School for Environment and Sustainability. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her teaching focuses on environmental planning, land use, and physical planning, including leading community-based capstone projects in Detroit. Her research addresses urban sustainability, environmental inequities, and climate adaptation, particularly urban heat islands and green infrastructure. She collaborates across disciplines, including public health and engineering, and leads projects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, exploring urbanization and water infrastructure challenges.

Education: PhD in Urban and Regional Planning (UIUC), MA and BA from University of Guelph, Ontario. Prior to academia, she practiced as a landscape architect in Chicago and taught at Arizona State University.

Research Interests: Urban environmental justice, climate resilience, and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. Recent projects include urban heat vulnerability assessments with NIH and green infrastructure planning in East Africa.

Publications & Impact: Recent work analyzes climate risks in Phoenix and explores refugee land-use strategies. Her 2018 guide on green infrastructure is widely referenced in urban planning circles. She was honored with the 2023 Awards for Student and Faculty Excellence from Taubman College.

Collaborations: Works with Addis Ababa University, US Green Building Council, and the School of Public Health. Advises on graduate projects linking academic research with community needs.