معرفی
Susmita Rishi, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning at Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design. Her work bridges urban design, housing, and social justice, with a focus on marginalized communities in both the Global South and the United States.
Her research explores the social production of home, informality, and southern theory, grounded in fieldwork in India and U.S. mobile home parks. She leads the project "Double-Wide Lives: realities of chasing the American dream in its mobile home parks [MHPs]," funded by the K-State University Small Research Grant (2023), and is co-PI on a pre-proposal accepted for a $1M NSF Innovation Engines project. In 2024, she co-founded the Better Housing Consortium with Dr. Mariana Junquiera and Prof. Michael Gibson, recognized by the APDesign Engagement Champions Award.
Her pedagogy emphasizes critical inquiry, community engagement, and real-world application. She mentors graduate students in their thesis work, with two advisees receiving the national ARCC King Student Medals. Her teaching includes courses such as PLAN215 World Cities, PLAN640 Urban Design and Development, and UHP189 Social Justice and the City.
Scientific Awards and Recognitions:
- Graduate Faculty Mentor Award 2024
- APDesign Engagement Champions Award 2024
- Deans’ Equity and Inclusion Initiative Fellow (2023–2025)
- Nominated for K-State Excellence in Engagement Award 2023
- Students awarded Kansas APA New Horizon Award (2022, 2019)
Grants and Funding:
- K-State University Small Research Grant (USRG) 2023
- NSF Innovation Engines Pre-Proposal Accepted ($1M)
Labs and Teams: Co-founder of the Better Housing Consortium; collaborator in engaged urban research projects with community partners and interdisciplinary teams.
