Nicholas Finio

Nicholas Finio is the Associate Director of the National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) and an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Maryland's School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He specializes in gentrification, smart growth, regional planning, and equity. Finio leads research projects on housing policy, equitable development, and transportation, particularly focusing on the Purple Line Corridor. He has been involved in the NCSG since 2013, advancing to PhD candidacy in 2017 and defending his dissertation on gentrification measurement in 2022. His work includes analyzing neighborhood change, housing affordability, and regional equity in the Washington, D.C. area.

Education: PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design (2022), M.Community Planning (2015), B.Economics (Gettysburg College, 2010).

Research highlights include the Purple Line Corridor Coalition partnership, underutilized land analysis, and federal grant projects with Maryland Transit Administration. He teaches community development and advises on policy initiatives. Finio's publications and blog posts critique conventional gentrification narratives, emphasizing nuanced demographic shifts and equity-focused planning strategies.