Mary Donegan

Dr. Mary Donegan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Community Studies at the University of Connecticut's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill and focuses on how institutions leverage resources for equitable community development. Her research examines economic development incentives, entrepreneurial ecosystems, workforce policies, and university-regional partnerships.

Her research interests center on:

• Transparency and efficacy of economic development incentives
• State and city roles in Opportunity Zone projects
• Entrepreneurial ecosystem complexity
• Workforce development for marginalized groups
• University-regional development relationships

Her publications consistently address urban economic revitalization, policy evaluation, and community equity frameworks, with recent work focusing on microgeographies of entrepreneurship and incentive reform.

Dr. Donegan currently advises on workforce development initiatives and evaluates housing policies through partnerships with urban research centers.