María-Luisa Mendez

María-Luisa Mendez is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Urban and Territorial Studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She serves as Director of the Centre for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (COES) and leads the research line on 'Geographies of Conflict and Cohesion.' Internationally, she is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the International Inequalities Institute, London School of Economics (LSE), and Corresponding Editor of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (IJURR).

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, University of Manchester
• MPhil in Cultural Studies, University of Birmingham
• Master in Anthropology and Development, University of Chile

Her research focuses on the subjective dimensions of social mobility, social stratification, place attachment, and urban conflict in Chile. She explores how cultural repertoires, schooling, and residential choices contribute to the reproduction of the upper middle class and shape socio-spatial inequalities. Her work combines qualitative methods with critical urban theory, examining neighborhood cohesion, boundary-making practices, and struggles over housing and heritage.

The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in urban sociology and social inequality, with a regional focus on Santiago de Chile. Her work spans disciplines including sociology, urban studies, political theory, and education, often addressing how privilege, stigma, and resistance are spatially enacted. Key themes include neighborhood cohesion as privilege, school choice as a mechanism of class reproduction, and mobilizations against territorial disqualification.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards listed in the text.

She leads the Fondecyt Project N°1191440, 'Cultural Repertoires, Socio-spatial Trajectories and Politics: Fragmentation and Conflict within the Upper Middle Class in Chile,' and has authored the book Upper Middle Class Social Reproduction (Palgrave, 2019). While specific advisees are not listed, her leadership roles imply extensive mentorship and team supervision. She publishes regularly in high-impact journals such as Urban Studies, Cities, and City and Community.

She is affiliated with the Centre for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (COES), a leading research center in Chile focused on inequality and social cohesion, where she leads a major research line and contributes to national and international policy debates on urban and social development.