Mina Chow

Mina Chow FAIA NCARB is an interdisciplinary licensed architect, filmmaker, and Adjunct Associate Professor at the USC School of Architecture, where she teaches design and professional practice. She is also a Faculty Fellow at USC Annenberg Center on Public Diplomacy. Holding a B.A. in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an M.Arch from Harvard University, her work bridges architecture, media, and cultural studies. She founded mc² SPACES, producing films like the acclaimed 2022 PBS documentary FACE OF A NATION: What Happened to the World’s Fair?, which analyzes the decline of U.S. participation in World Expos and its impact on national image.

Her academic contributions include courses on Building Science and Professional Practice, emphasizing design ethics and interdisciplinary collaboration. She has served as a design history consultant for the U.S. Department of State Expo Unit since 2018 and contributed to the award-winning 2012 Venice Biennale U.S. Pavilion. Notable works also include the 2014 100 Years of Architecture short film and the 2011 BRAVE NEW WORLD web pilot for the LA Mayor’s Office.

Awarded the AIA College of Fellows distinction in 2021 for public service and documentary filmmaking, her research focuses on architecture’s role in cultural narratives. Grants include the Graham Foundation and USC US-China Institute funding. She actively publishes in platforms like The Architect’s Newspaper, exploring themes like public diplomacy through design and crisis-driven urbanism.

Her teaching integrates digital fabrication tools (Rhino, Adobe Suite) with hands-on projects, emphasizing material expression and contextual analysis. She advises on interdisciplinary collaborations between architecture, engineering, and public policy, reflecting her belief in design as a tool for societal good.