Michael Lens

Michael Lens is a Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs, serving as Chair of the Luskin Undergraduate Programs and Associate Faculty Director of the Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies. His research focuses on housing policy inequities, zoning laws, and their impacts on low-income communities and communities of color. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from New York University, alongside degrees from the University of Michigan and Macalester College.

Key research areas include urban segregation, housing subsidies, eviction dynamics, and the intersection of housing policy with criminal justice and poverty. His award-winning work has been published in leading journals like the Journal of the American Planning Association and Housing Policy Debate. Notable contributions include his book *Where the Hood At: Fifty Years of Change in Black Neighborhoods* (2024), which examines racialized urban transformations.

Recent projects analyze housing mobility, accessory dwelling units, and California planning reforms. His research has been funded by the MacArthur Foundation, Arnold Ventures, HUD, and others. Teaching specialties include quantitative analysis, poverty studies, and research methods.

Scientific awards highlight his 2013-14 Housing Policy Debate Best Paper and 2014 Journal of the American Planning Association Best Article. Grants and collaborations emphasize community partnerships to address urban challenges. No specific labs or teams are mentioned beyond institutional affiliations.