Magdalena Novoa

Magdalena Novoa is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois. Her research focuses on intersections of historic preservation, social justice, and memory politics, particularly in Latin America. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, and dual B.A. degrees in Fine Arts (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) and Education (Universidad Gabriela Mistral), along with an M.A. in Arts and Cultural Management from the London School of Communication.

Dr. Novoa’s work emphasizes grassroots organizing, insurgent planning methodologies, and decolonial approaches to heritage. She explores how marginalized communities mobilize cultural heritage and memory to challenge exclusionary policies. Her participatory research spans Chile, including roles in the National Monuments Council and collaborations with organizations like Aldea and OH! Stgo, an annual urban festival promoting public access to cultural spaces.

Her publications analyze gendered nostalgia in deindustrialized landscapes, insurgent heritage practices, and pluriversal planning frameworks. While no formal awards are listed, her scholarship bridges academic rigor with community-driven activism, emphasizing ethical care and place-based resistance.

Key collaborations include:

• Co-leading OH! Stgo (Santiago’s largest urban festival)
• Partnerships with Aldea (Chilean community organization)
• Action research with youth-led design initiatives

Her research labs focus on decolonizing methodologies and urban justice, with active projects addressing colonial wounds in environmental policy and post-industrial community resilience.